health

Treatment for mild whiplash injuries may involve massage therapy and
heat application in addition to treatment at home with bed rest, ice, and
mild pain relievers. Within three to four days of the injury, the patient
will be asked to start range-of-motion exercises to keep the neck flexible.
These exercises usually involve gently rolling the head from side to side
or bending the neck backward and forward. If the pain persists for several
months, the doctor may recommend physical therapy to strengthen the
neck muscles. The doctor may also inject a local anesthetic to reduce
muscle spasms before the patient begins the range-of-motion exercises.
Cervical (neck) collars are not used as often now as they were some
years ago. The reason for this change is that wearing a collar for several
weeks or months causes the muscles in the neck to lose their strength.
People who have trouble sleeping because of whiplash pain, however,
may be given a cervical collar to wear while they are sleeping.
Some people are helped by alternative and complementary treatments
for whiplash injuries. The approaches that have been found
helpful include acupuncture, massage therapy, and chiropractic.