Game Changing Whiplash Exercises | Chiropractor for Whiplash in Belmar, NJ
Hello, everyone! Dr. Jodi Kinney here from Kinney Chiropractic. Today, I’m going to guide you through some essential stretches if you’ve experienced a whiplash injury. Whiplash typically occurs in accidents like car collisions or sports injuries, involving a rapid backward and forward movement of the head and neck. This can result in various issues, including neck pain, numbness, tingling, shoulder pain, and headaches.
3 Effective Exercises
After a whiplash injury, the normal curve of the neck is often lost, and the head flexes forward, putting stress on the front parts of the bones and discs. To counteract this, we focus on extension and rotation stretches. One effective stretch is the extension stretch. Here, you grab a wrist behind your back, stick your chest out, and extend your head back as far as you can. Tilt your head back, getting the chin as far up as possible, and hold each stretch for about 10 to 15 breaths. Another helpful stretch targets the sides of the neck through lateral flexion. Grab the top of your head, relax the shoulder you’re stretching into, and gently pull sideways to feel a deep stretch. Repeat this on the other side. Additionally, a 45-degree turn stretch involves gently turning your head and pulling it in the direction of the turn. Drop the shoulder back and hold for 10 to 15 breaths, repeating on the other side. Always finish your routine with extension stretches. If you feel stiff or sore afterward, apply ice to your neck, not heat. Ice helps with inflammation, swelling, and calming down nerves, crucial for pain relief.
After a whiplash injury, it’s also essential to get your spine checked by a chiropractor. Come in, and let us assess the extent of the damage in your neck. Hope these stretches help! See you soon.
