An injury to the soft tissues of the neck that occurs from a sudden jerking or “whipping” of the head.  This type of motion strains the muscles and the ligaments of the neck beyond their normal range of motion.  Whiplash often occurs when a vehicle stops suddenly in a car crash or is struck from behind.  Either of these two actions causes things in the vehicle to be thrown forward – including passengers.  A seat belt will keep a person’s body from being thrown forward, but the head may snap forward, then backward, causing a whiplash injury in the neck.  In addition to car accidents, whiplash can be caused by roller coasters and other amusement park rides, sports injuries, or being punched or shaken.  (Whiplash is one of the hallmarks of shaken baby syndrome).

This misalignment of the spinal bones puts pressure on the nerves that exit the brain. The brain uses the nervous system to control all functions of the body. When the flow of the nerve impulses is compromised, the messages your body gets from the brain are distorted or slowed down. Without the proper instructions from your brain, the soft tissue cannot heal itself and may remain in a malfunctioned state. If your body does not get the proper care it needs to reestablish good communication through the nerves, the body may mend the injured spine in a distorted position, which can contribute to chronic and more severe problems later.

Chiropractic is the only profession that specifically addresses these misalignments. Through gentle realigning of the spinal bones, chiropractic can help correct the damage done by whiplash and allow the body to heal itself.