Rear-Ended? Whiplash?

While there have been tremendous advances in vehicle safety over the past number of years, getting rear-ended by another car or truck while you are stopped at a light or intersection can still cause significant whiplash injuries.

What Causes Whiplash?

Whiplash is one of the most common injuries sustained in rear-end collisions.  The soft tissues of your neck and upper back are strained by the unexpected sudden flexion and extension that occur during the accident.  These soft tissues can be muscles, ligaments, facet joints and sometimes even the discs themselves.

What are Common Symptoms?

Whiplash symptoms commonly include:  neck pain, muscle spasm, stiffness, and headaches.  In more severe cases, there can be radiating pain into the upper arms, numbness and/or tingling, and even concussion like symptoms.  In many instances, the symptoms may not fully manifest until a few days after the collision.

What Can Be Done?

If you have been rear-ended, it is important that you have your neck and upper back checked by a primary health provider (physiotherapist, doctor, etc.) as soon as possible.  Long term damage can occur when your soft tissue injuries are not evaluated and treated in a timely fashion. 

At Capilano Rehab Centre, our Whiplash Recovery physiotherapy team is highly skilled in the assessment and treatment of whiplash injuries.  We will diagnose your injuries through a comprehensive examination, implement a gentle individualized treatment plan that includes hands-on treatment and therapeutic exercise, and help you wake up to pain free living.  Call Capilano today at 780-466-1104.

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