Whiplash Chiropractor In LUTZ, FL
Dr. Dale Hanson is a top chiropractor in Tampa, FL for treating whiplash, neck pain, and other related injuries using natural chiropractic treatment modalities that focus on the root cause rather than masking the symptoms. Tampa Central Chiropractic specializes in providing the best drug-free, hands-on treatment options for those who are suffering from pain after an accident.
What causes a whiplash injury?
A whiplash injury can be caused by an automobile accident, sports injury, or even a fall at home. In some cases, it may not be clear what exactly happened to cause the whiplash injury. A trained chiropractor will need to diagnose this type of injury in order to determine the right treatment plan.
A typical whiplash injury happens when the victim is rear-ended by another vehicle and the force of the impact and sudden back and forward movement of the head causes the muscles and ligaments of the neck to stretch and tear.
In severe cases, this may result in damage to the spinal cord and/or brain.
How Does a Chiropractor Diagnose a Whiplash Injury?
The first step a trained chiropractor will take in order to diagnose a whiplash injury is to examine the patient’s symptoms. The chiropractor will also ask questions regarding how long the person was injured, details of the incident, if there were any previous accidents involving similar injuries, and whether they have had any prior problems with their spine or neck.
Next, the chiropractor will perform a physical examination of the patient’s body. This includes checking the patient’s range of motion in all directions, looking for muscle spasms, tenderness where the injury occurred, and assessing the strength of the patient’s upper extremities.
If necessary, x-rays may be taken to rule out other possible causes of the injury such as fractures.
Chiropractic Care Treatment Options for Whiplash:
Once the chiropractor has diagnosed a whiplash injury, he or she will recommend a course of action based on the severity of the injury. Treatment options include:
Spinal Manipulation – SM is used to treat acute whiplash injuries. It involves gentle manipulation of the spine to relieve pressure on the nerves and help restore normal function.
Soft Tissue Mobilization – STM helps improve blood circulation, which promotes healing. It can be done manually or with the use of special equipment
Physical therapy – This involves exercises designed to strengthen the muscles around the area of the injury and help prevent future injuries. It is usually recommended after the initial recovery period.
Rest – Patients who are experiencing milder forms of whiplash should avoid strenuous activity until the injury heals completely. They should also rest as much as possible to allow the body time to heal itself.
Cold packs – Applying ice packs to the affected areas can provide relief from soreness and stiffness. Ice packs can be used during the day or night while sleeping.
Why go to a chiropractor for whiplash vs a primary care doctor?
Whiplash is one of the most common types of injuries that occur in car crashes and people don’t realize that chiropractors are highly skilled at diagnosing and treating these types of injuries.
Most primary care physicians are not well versed in the diagnosis and treatment of whiplash injuries. Because of this, patients often end up seeing multiple different health care providers before finding someone who can effectively treat them.
By contrast, chiropractors are specifically trained to evaluate and treat whiplash injuries. In addition, chiropractors are able to offer more comprehensive treatments than those offered by general practitioners.
In short, going to a chiropractor like Dr. Dale Hanson for whiplash in Tampa is your best bet for getting fast results and healing without the need for risky medications.
Freaquently Asked Questions
If you have recently been involved in a car accident and experience symptoms like neck pain, stiffness, weakness, numbness, tingling, dizziness, headache, nausea, vomiting, loss of balance, and vision changes, there is a good chance you have whiplash. It is always best to come for a full evaluation with Dr. Dale Hanson at Tampa Cental Chiropractic.
If you don’t treat whiplash properly, you could end up with neck pain, headaches, numbness, tingling, and muscle weakness. The longer you wait to seek treatment for whiplash, the worse your symptoms may become and the longer they might last.
On average whiplash takes about 4 weeks to heal but the time greatly depends on the severity of the injury and how quickly you start receiving the right treatment. Statistically, 12%-50% of people diagnosed with whiplash will have persistent neck pain after a year from the accident. To make sure your injury heals as quickly as possible, call our office today and Dr. Dale Hanson at Tampa Central Chiropractic will make sure you receive the best quality chiropractic care so you can go back to living pain-free.
