Whiplash
Canberra

Physiotherapy is an important component of your whiplash recovery.

Neck Pain
Should Never Be Ignored

Every year, thousands of Australians experience whiplash-associated disorders as a result of car accidents. Resulting in severe neck pain that can make even the most basic of daily tasks unbearable, many people have always considered this an injury that will go away on its own – you just have to grin and bear it.

Over the years, it has become more widely understood that early intervention through physiotherapy can be highly beneficial in whiplash treatment Canberra, allowing patients to enjoy full range of motion once again.

Whiplash Treatment Canberra

What is
Whiplash?

Whiplash is essentially a sprain of the joints in the neck and occurs when the head is suddenly jolted backward and forward in a whip-like movement (hence the name). It’s a common injury sustained after being rear-ended in a car accident and can also result from a fall, a forceful sporting injury, amusement park rides, bungee jumping or skydiving, or physical assaults.

Such a movement generates considerable force, causing the neck to move beyond the normal range of movement and resulting in damage to its delicate supporting structures. 

Whiplash Symptoms

Although the symptoms of whiplash will vary from person to person, there are some more frequently noticed symptoms:

 

  • Neck pain and/or stiffness
  • Head feels too heavy for the neck
  • Reduced neck movement
  • Pain between the shoulder blades
  • Pain that radiates into the shoulders and arms
  • Tingling in the arms and fingers
  • Dizziness, headaches, blurred vision, and difficulty swallowing
  • Irritability and difficulty concentrating
  • Nausea
  • Ringing in the ears
  • Vertigo
  • Pain in the jaw and face

Whiplash Treatments

If you’ve sustained whiplash, the good news is that physiotherapy management is extremely effective. The focus will be on reducing your pain and inflammation and stabilising your neck to prevent further damage from occurring.

Your physiotherapist will take a thorough history, as well as perform an orthopaedic, neurological, and spinal examination to determine the exact location of your neck pain. They may also send you for an x-ray, CT, MRI, or posture pro scan to assess for any further damage. 

Your Whiplash
Questions Answered

There are no referrals needed to book an appointment with Powerhouse Canberra! While we do welcome GP referrals, we also treat patients who visit us using their private health insurance or who are happy to pay out of pocket – simply book online and you’re good to go.

Around a third of people who are involved in a car accident will experience no whiplash symptoms, another third will develop some symptoms that clear up within a few weeks, and the final third will develop severe symptoms that persist. If you have any symptoms at all, seek treatment.
Many people make the mistake of thinking that whiplash will go away on its own – and it can in more minor cases. In more serious injuries, however, early physiotherapy intervention (within three months) can mean the difference between a full recovery and developing chronic whiplash.
This will depend entirely on the person and how they’ve sustained the injury. In most cases, however, it takes between six and 12 weeks for your neck to feel back to normal. In more severe cases, pain and dysfunction have been known to persist in the following years.
Whiplash Pain Treatment Canberra

How Powerhouse Canberra Can Help

When you see a Powerhouse Canberra physiotherapist for whiplash, they will tailor a treatment schedule to suit your specific circumstances.

Initial Treatment

Depending on the severity of your injury and how it was sustained, you may be recommended to wear a cervical collar for the first few days to help control the inflammation. This should be weaned off after four to six days, however. Pain relief modalities and anti-inflammatory medications may also be recommended.

Secondary Treatment

Your physiotherapist will encourage gentle movement in your neck through manual therapy (particularly mobilisation) and manipulation to return its range of motion. The best results are generally achieved with a combination of active range of motion exercises (including gentle mobilisation, massage therapy, and gentle stretching).

Moving Forward

As your condition improves, the focus will turn to deeper massage and mobilisation to more specific areas of your neck. Once the pain has begun to settle and movement has returned to normal, your physiotherapist will prescribe some strengthening exercises to help improve your neck’s stability (as the injury will have weakened it).

Why Choose Powerhouse Canberra?

Whiplash Treatment in Canberra

Bringing World Class Locally

We pride ourselves on bringing world-class treatments and thinking to the local Canberra area. Our team is committed to assisting with injury prevention, exercise and orthopaedic rehabilitation, sports and remedial massage, and injury management.

Canberra Physiotherapy for Whiplash

Community Feel

The idea of mateship is something we feel strongly about here at Powerhouse Canberra, both within our team and with our clients. We are committed to creating a supportive and welcoming environment at all times – there’s no blame, shame, or justification here.

Physiotherapist for Whiplash Treatment Canberra

Highly Qualified Physiotherapists

Our team is comprised of highly qualified physiotherapists who have undergone extensive training and who love to upskill. They also come from elite sports-based backgrounds, so you can rest assured that your recovery and rehabilitation are in good hands.

See a Physio Today
for Effective Treatment of Whiplash
If you’ve been involved in an accident or some other forceful incident that has resulted in whiplash, you may not have realised that physiotherapy can be a highly beneficial form of treatment. At Powerhouse Canberra, we are fortunate to have several physiotherapists who specialise in neck and back injuries – including whiplash.
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