Whiplash

Symptoms
Neck stiffness, injuries to the muscles and ligaments, headache, dizziness, abnormal sensations such as burning or prickling, shoulder or back pain.


Causes
Whiplash is also called neck sprain or neck strain. It is characterized by a collection of symptoms that occur following damage to the neck, usually because of sudden extension and flexion. The disorder commonly occurs as the result of an automobile accident and may include injury to vertebrae, discs and ligaments and cervical muscles.


Treatment
Massage should not be applied until 72 hours post injury. Once treatments begin, helping the muscles to relax and loosen will allow more blood and oxygen into the affected area and assist in the healing. Neuromuscular Therapy is effective in identifying trigger points and treating them. Headaches and neck pain are the most common result of trigger points developed due to whiplash. Some common spots when pain may be experienced are: the base of the neck, the base of the skull, top of the head, just above the eye. The entire neck will be addressed with massage therapy to balance out the musculature to realign the head over the shoulders to eliminate pain.