What You Need to Know about Neck Injuries: Chiropractors Advise to Take Them Seriously!

The neck is one of the most vulnerable parts of the human body. The first part of the spine and two major blood vessels pass through it. It supports the head and allows it a wide range of movements. For these very reasons, neck injuries can happen in many ways. And none of them should be taken lightly. When talking about neck injuries, chiropractors agree: that even a slight accident can have serious consequences.


Neck Injuries in Chiropractic: A Major Source of Other Conditions and Symptoms

After treating patients with various neck injuries, chiropractors can firmly say that it is one cause with multiple negative effects.



A neck injury can be the main cause of:


• Vertigo


• Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)


• Facial palsy


• Numb and painful arms


• Poor sleep


• Bad posture, followed by other negative consequences.



Thus, there are no simple neck injuries for chiropractors. Every incident should be investigated by a specialist so that they can attest to the severity of the injury and recommend a course of treatment.


The Most Common Neck Injuries Chiropractors Have Treated

Let us now look at the most frequent types of neck injuries and explain why they need special attention.


1. Whiplash

Whiplash is the result of car accidents in a vast number of cases. The sudden jerking movement of the head backward and forwards can cause muscle strains, tearing of the ligaments, and even misalignment of the vertebrae.

Although many people tend to ignore the severity of these neck injuries, chiropractors insist that you get checked into a hospital after any such incident. After the shock caused by a car crash, adrenaline kicks in, and you may not be aware of the severity of your injuries.
Untreated whiplash can leave you with permanent stiffness in the neck caused by scar tissue, and weakness of the limbs (due to poor communication of the brain through the nerves pinched by misaligned vertebrae).


2. Muscle Strain

Neck muscle strain is caused by repetitive movements, such as lifting and carrying heavy objects. For these neck injuries, chiropractors recommend not only therapy to relieve pain (adjustments and massage) but also learning the correct posture for performing those activities, if they cannot be avoided.

Otherwise, the problem will occur over and over again, getting worse each time as your body endures severe wear and tear.


3. Sprains

A sudden wrong movement can cause ligament sprains in the neck. This type of neck injury, according to chiropractors, is more common in sports such as football and rugby, where direct contact between players is frequent.

Untreated neck ligament sprains will lead to the formation of scar tissue, which is less flexible than normal ligament tissue. In turn, it will decrease the flexibility of the neck and its natural range of movements.


4. Disk Injury

Disks are a sort of cushion between the vertebrae made of two parts:
• An outer fibrous part
• An inner pulpy part.

They act as shock absorbers for the vertebrae. In case of severe mechanical shocks, such as falling from a height or a car crash, the disks can slip out of their normal alignment. They can press into the spinal cord and cause constant pain down the spine and along the legs.

For these neck injuries, chiropractors have a non-invasive treatment: adjustments and manipulations which encourage the slipped disk to return to its normal position.


5. Fractured Vertebrae

In case of major trauma, the vertebrae can suffer fractures. This is one of the most serious cases of neck injuries, and chiropractors know that they can have fatal consequences. In most cases, the patient is either unconscious or in extreme pain and will be taken to a hospital for emergency treatment and investigations.

You should not ignore any kind of neck injuries.