Whiplash is very unpleasant. The symptoms can persist for a long time and, in the case of a severe whiplash, you may not get rid of them at all. Good physiotherapy support is essential to recovering from whiplash. Literally, whiplash means 'whiplash'. It usually results from a (traffic) accident, in which your head and neck take a violent 'lash'. This sudden overstretching of the neck can cause unpleasant symptoms. The most common complaints are pain in the neck, head, shoulders and back. Hannah at FriskFysio will tell you more about whiplash and its treatment in this blog.

What do you recognise whiplash by?

If you have had an accident and your head has made a sudden movement forward, backward or sideways, the nerves and muscles in the neck may have become overloaded. If so, symptoms such as:

Pain in the neck and/or shoulders;
Headache;
Tingling in arms and/or hands;
Dizziness;
Nausea/vomiting;

A few days or weeks later, other symptoms may also arise such as:

Concentration disorders;
Fatigue;
Forgetfulness.

Exactly what symptoms a person has and to what extent varies from person to person.

Fortunately, most people only retain symptoms for a short time after a whiplash accident. In a small group of people, this is not the case. Many months or even years after the accident, they are still not rid of their complaints. This group can suffer from insomnia and hypersensitivity to light and sound, in addition to the above-mentioned complaints.

What is Whiplash?

The neck contains 7 vertebrae, 22 pairs of muscles and another 38 joints. Whiplash involves temporary injury to the supporting tissue, connective tissue and/or muscles of the neck. This injury is caused by a sudden violent forward, sideways, or backward movement of the neck. Often, patients have symptoms even though no abnormalities are found on physical examination or X-ray. This makes it difficult to diagnose whiplash. Pain in the neck is the most common complaint in whiplash. In physiotherapy, we therefore speak of trauma-related neck pain. In international literature, the term whiplash associated disorder (WAD) is often used.

What should you do if you have whiplash?

Whiplash is treated in different ways and depends on the severity of the injury, the symptoms you have and your medical history. If you visit your GP shortly after the accident, he or she may refer you to have X-rays taken. This is done to rule out other injuries. They may also refer you to a specialist or physiotherapist for further treatment.

Generally, in the first weeks after the whiplash has occurred, you need to watch your limits carefully. It is important that you alternate rest, relaxation and exertion. It is also very important to pay attention to your posture. If you feel better after one to two weeks, you can start moving more and gradually pick up your daily activities. If the symptoms persist for more than two weeks, it is advisable to consult a doctor again. Our physiotherapists will also advise you on this, if you are under treatment for whiplash with us.

Continuous use of a cervical collar is not recommended. Such a collar has no healing effect. On the contrary, with continuous use, the cervical-neck muscles will slacken, which may cause a feeling of instability of the cervical-neck area. But if you have to sit still for long periods of time, such as during a long car journey, in an aeroplane or in the dentist's chair, wearing a neck collar can provide temporary relief.

How does physiotherapy help with whiplash?

Staying active is important. This will reduce your risk of long-term symptoms. To be active in a healthy way, it is advisable to:

pay attention to good posture
match your daily activities to your load capacity.
exercise regularly

Our physiotherapists will support you in this. In the first week after suffering whiplash, your physiotherapy treatment focuses on giving posture advice and relaxing exercises. After a week, exercise therapy can be started. We will work with you to find the right posture and movements. Most people with a whiplash injury make a smooth and full recovery. Rembrandt Physiotherapy & Rehabilitation has in-house specialists who are familiar with trauma-related neck pain and they are ready to help you recover.