A Holistic Approach to Whiplash and Concussion Recovery
Dealing with symptoms of whiplash and concussion? Here’s how we can help
Have you experienced an injury that caused whiplash and/or concussion? Even if your injury wasn’t recent, you could still be confronted with lingering symptoms, including nausea, dizziness, and persistent headaches. Millions of people experience injuries to their neck and concussions each year, particularly athletes from contact sports such as football and hockey. However, whiplash and concussions can result from car accidents, falls, and other unexpected injuries.
At Kintsugi Physical Therapy & Wellness, we help our patients recover from neck pain and concussions with a specialized holistic approach. This means that we focus on the entire body and the person rather than just treating symptoms. Our holistic physical therapists consider all lifestyle factors, including the patient’s emotional, spiritual, and physical health.
If you or anyone you know has experienced whiplash or concussion, contact Kintsugi Physical Therapy & Wellness today!
What is a concussion?
A concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury caused by any direct or indirect force to the head. When this happens, the brain will move rapidly and may touch the skull.
This sudden movement can also stretch and damage tissue in the neck and trigger changes within the brain. While this may sound intimidating, most side effects of a concussion can be treated, and the individual can restore their normal functions.
Although it is possible to have a concussion without an injury to the neck, like a whiplash, it is not possible to have a whiplash without a concussion. The fact that the forces were great enough to cause an injury to the tissues in the neck indicates that it also caused brain movement inside the skull.
The symptoms of concussion and whiplash can be confused with one another, which is why having an expert take a look is so important. Fortunately, our holistic specialists at Kintsugi Physical Therapy & Wellness are trained to distinguish where your symptoms are coming from and help diminish your symptoms with our advanced treatment plans.
What are the common symptoms of both a concussion and whiplash?
Symptoms of a concussion or whiplash can appear slowly or all at once. They can vary significantly in severity and cause physical and psychological effects. It’s important to note that some patients recover faster than others.
Concussions and whiplashes can negatively influence a person’s ability to concentrate, communicate, and achieve daily tasks.
Common symptoms of both whiplash and concussion include:
- Headaches and migraines
- Neck pain
- Troubling balancing, dizziness
- Feeling sluggish and groggy
- Trouble concentrating
- Depressive symptoms or mood changes
Concussion and whiplash symptoms look different in every patient, depending on their age, general health, and the impact of the injury. If you have severe symptoms, you should consult your doctor to ensure you receive the appropriate treatment.
Getting to the root of your symptoms is the key to getting relief. Our team is experienced at clarifying whether your symptoms come solely from a concussion, a whiplash, or both. The bottom line is our holistic specialists can help you recover.
How a holistic approach works
People who experience whiplash and/or concussions often rely on pain medications and assistance from a physician. And while it’s true that in severe cases, a doctor’s visit is necessary, often, these injuries do not require that kind of medical intervention. Rather, physical therapy is the best way to heal from a whiplash and/or concussion instead of masking the pain with medication.
Holistic physical therapy uses an integrated approach to address the root cause of your pain and help heal the body, mind, and spirit. This healing method is particularly useful with chronic pain, which is common with both conditions.
As your treatment begins, we will assess your condition by conducting a comprehensive evaluation. We will examine your medical history during this appointment and perform a physical examination.
Your holistic PT will design a customized program that meets your unique needs, including exercises, hands-on therapy, and other forms of functional medicine.
Our holistic physical therapists use several techniques to help patients heal from a concussion. These include:
Massage therapy: Therapeutic massage targets the areas of your pain and has also been shown to ease stress, anxiety, and depression.
Mobilizations: Holistic therapists use hands-on therapy to help restore the range of motion and relax muscle tension.
Targeted exercise: Whether you have whiplash, concussion, or both, movement is the key to long-term relief. Exercise and aerobic conditioning are effective for both conditions.
For concussions, your therapist may also recommend cognitive and physical rest. Cognitive rest means avoiding activities that require focus and concentration, such as technology like the TV, phone, iPad, and other bright screens. This allows your brain to rest fully.
Physical rest is simply avoiding exertion, strenuous activities, and exercise until your symptoms have fully subsided or a professional has cleared you. Physical activity too early or aggressively puts you at risk for another injury. It can worsen your symptoms by causing stress to the area.
Call today to request an appointment!
At Kintsugi Physical Therapy & Wellness, our holistic therapists are passionate about helping our patients better their lives through recovery. If you recently experienced a concussion or are dealing with lingering symptoms from whiplash, call our office and start recovering today!