Treating Whiplash Injury with Massage Therapy

For over twenty years the therapists at Cherry Creek Myotherapy in Thompson Falls, Montana, have been working with clients who suffer from a whiplash injury. Massage is an excellent therapeutic approach in the treatment of whiplash. For this reason, we have a track record that verifies the success of massage treatment as a healing modality for the soft tissues involved in a whiplash injury. So what exactly is whiplash and how does it occur?

Hyperextension, or the abrupt movement of the head going backwards, is the most common way whiplash occurs.  However, if the force is strong enough, hyperflexion, movement of the head forward, and lateral flexion, movement of the head to either side, can also cause a whiplash injury.  Whiplash injuries can also include any combination of the above movements.  One of the most common causes of whiplash injuries is motor vehicle accidents involving rear end collisions.  However falls and other accidental movements can also be responsible for whiplash occurring.

The most common complaints associated with whiplash are: neck pain, headaches, blurred vision, low back pain, arm pain, muscle tightness and sleep disturbances.  People who have been diagnosed with whiplash are normally suffering from more than one of these symptoms.

Often times people who are diagnosed with whiplash injury will experience a delay between impact and the onset of symptoms.  Although some symptoms may present immediately, it is common to see additional symptoms manifest hours or even a few days after the injury.  After an accident that causes symptoms in your neck, it is important to see your DC or MD to be evaluated and find out the range of options available to get you on the road to recovery.

Massage therapy is an excellent choice for treating whiplash due to the soft tissues involved in the injury.  Utilizing massage therapy in your recovery process helps the tissue heal with less scar tissue formation by bringing circulation to the injury site and stimulating the lymphatic system to cleanse the toxins and metabolic waste from the damaged tissue.  Most clients find massage to be a soothing, non-invasive choice following a traumatic incident.

Healing from whiplash can be a time consuming process.  For an injury that occurs in less than a second, research has shown that victims may still be in the recovery process from 3 weeks to six months after the injury occurs.  For this reason, it is important to receive appropriate medical care and therapies from the start to help facilitate your healing process.

If you are suffering from a whiplash injury and would like to add therapeutic massage to your treatment plan, contact us today.  We are happy to help evaluate the benefit massage can bring to your healing process. We can also help facilitate your massage therapy treatment with your primary care provider.