A sudden forced movement of the head or neck in any direction and the resulting “rebound” in the opposite direction is known as whiplash. The sudden “whipping” motion injures the surrounding and supporting tissues of the neck and head. Muscles react by tightening and contracting, creating muscle fatigue, which can result in pain and stiffness. Severe whiplash can also be associated with injury to the intervertebral joints, discs, ligaments, muscles, and nerve roots. Car accidents are the most common cause of whiplash but falls and near slips on ice can also be the culprit.

Many people who have accidents resulting in whiplash do not feel the results of the injury until weeks or months later when the problem becomes persistent and leads to other issues.

When two or more vertebrae aren’t functioning together properly, it is what many chiropractors refer to as a subluxation or a misalignment. These misalignments are actually joint dysfunctions that can cause you to experience pain, discomfort, decreased mobility, or many other symptoms and conditions. Joint dysfunctions often go unnoticed and can cause miscommunication between your brain and body.

Joint Dysfunctions in the spine may eventually lead to symptoms in other parts or joints of the body as well. These symptoms are your body’s only way of letting you know something is wrong. Unfortunately, the absence of pain is not an indication of health. By the time pain and symptoms appear the problem may have been present for months, even years. The great news is that you can help prevent these types of symptoms and conditions with chiropractic care.