Whiplash is a neck injury caused by sudden head movement. It can be caused by car accidents, physical abuse, amusement park rides, or playing physical sports. Symptoms of whiplash, such as neck pain and stiffness, usually begin to improve a few days to a week after the injury. Most people recover completely within a month.
However, some people have chronic neck pain and other long-term complications. It's important to recognize that some people don't experience any symptoms of whiplash for the first few days after a car accident. If you feel a tension in your neck and shoulders after an incident that causes your head to move forward or backward, you may be wondering about whiplash. The goal of treatment is to recover range of motion as quickly as possible.
We rarely advise patients to wear a soft neck collar, as we prefer to keep our joints and muscles moving rather than immobilizing them. Fitness, health and wellness tips that we send you weekly can help you recover faster. Physical therapy is also recommended early on, focusing on stretching, turning and moving the neck back and forth. If you're still experiencing significant pain after three months, it's a good idea to ask your doctor to evaluate your condition.
Then, he can recommend further treatment, if needed. Very few people have long-term complications from whiplash. The recovery time usually ranges from a few days to several weeks. According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, most people recover completely within 3 months.
If you or someone you know has suffered a whiplash due to someone else's negligence, you should contact the car accident lawyers at Powers & Santola, LLP in Albany. Victims of car accidents often suffer whiplash injuries, but they can also just as easily occur due to physical abuse, riding on attractions at amusement parks, or playing very physical sports, for example.
