Treating Whiplash with Myofascial Release

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Whiplash is a neck injury created by a rapid back and forth motion of the neck. It is usually caused by a rear-end collision car accident, but can also result from sports accidents, physical abuse, and other traumas such as a fall.

The whiplash injury can be a strain or sprain but can also include other types of neck injury. Most people improve within a few weeks with pain meds and exercise, but others experience chronic pain and other lasting complications.

Some symptoms of whiplash

  • Neck pain and stiffness
  • Loss of range of motion
  • Headaches starting at the base of the skull.
  • Tingling or numbness in the arms
  • Fatigue
  • Dizziness
  • Tenderness or pain in the shoulder

You can also have

  • Difficulty sleeping
  • Memory problems
  • Ringing in the ears
  • Difficulty focusing

You should always be assessed by a doctor to rule out broken bones or other injuries. If you have chronic neck pain and impaired range of motion 4-6 weeks after a whiplash injury, Myofascial Release can help alleviate your symptoms.

With Myofascial Release we assess the client’s posture standing. We are checking shoulders and hips to see if they are level and in the same plane. We are looking for areas of muscle contraction, pulling, and hardness.

Treatment consists of gentle, sustained pressure and stretching to release the muscle contraction and restrictions in the connective tissue. These restrictions can keep the muscle in spasm and exert as much as 2,000 lbs. of pressure per square inch on the vertebrae and nerves. Once restrictions are removed pain subsides and range of motion returns. I know this from my own experience with neck pain. As with any holistic treatment, the longer you have had the issue, the longer it takes to resolve it.