Massage Therapy For Whiplash

Whiplash is most often associated with car accidents, but it can also affect people who plays contact sports or who get struck by a falling object. Anytime your head jerks backward or forward, the impact can strain your sternocleidomastoid (SCM) muscles.

Located on each side of your neck, those are what you use to tilt your head or turn from side to side. A sudden movement might stretch or tear the muscles or tendons, resulting in what's commonly known as whiplash but may also be called a hyperextension injury, cervical strain or sprain, or acceleration-flexion neck injury.

Symptoms of Whiplash

• Tightness, stiffness and soreness in your neck
• Swelling, bruising, redness and/or tenderness
• Dizziness and pain when moving your head
• Headache, ringing in the ears, blurry eyesight

Add those up and you may have trouble sleeping, concentrating, or carrying out everyday activities. It's hard enough dealing with pain and fatigue in the first place, and the stress caused by such problems can make you feel even worse.

Effects of Massage

According to WebMD, massage may help. The professional therapists at Massage Envy are trained in a variety of massage techniques to address specific needs.

Cranial Sacral Therapy is a gentle technique known to provide relief for headaches and neck injuries. Trigger Point Massage can often decrease pain after just one session. More focused Deep Muscle Therapy is effective for persistent neck and back pain.

Discuss your personal situation with your therapist, and see how massage can make a difference in the effects of whiplash.