There are certain injuries or conditions that are closely linked to individual causes in many cases, and a great example here is whiplash and car accidents. Auto accidents are by far the most well-known situation where whiplash occurs, to the point that these two are basically synonymous to some people — but it’s important to realize that while this form of whiplash is indeed the most common, it’s not the only possible cause of this injury.
At Peterson Chiropractic, while the majority of our whiplash treatment patients do originate from car accident situations, we also provide the same caring services to those who are suffering from whiplash due to other causes. What are some of these other possible scenarios where whiplash could take place, and where you might want to be checked out if you’ve recently been involved in such a situation? This two-part blog series will go over several examples of whiplash from sources besides car accidents.
Certain Amusement Park Rides
While most attractions at amusement parks are low-impact and don’t strain the body too much, many of today’s amusement parks also contain large, fast attractions that can put a strong strain on the head and neck. Rides that move extremely quickly and/or hit a lot of sharp twists or turns can result in whiplash injuries even if you’re wearing a seatbelt — and these types of rides are becoming more common with each passing year.
So, if you’ve recently been on an amusement park ride that seemed to cause sudden neck pain, it’s important to get checked out by a chiropractor. This is especially true if you’re also experiencing any other symptoms, such as headaches, dizziness, vision changes or muscle stiffness or weakness.
Sports-Related Injuries
Another possible cause of whiplash that people may not think about immediately is sports injuries — specifically those where the head gets jerked in a sudden and forceful way. Any sort of contact sport, such as hockey, football or rugby, carries the risk of a whiplash injury in the event of being hit by another player or being struck with a piece of equipment.
Even non-contact sports present some risks for this type of serious damage: any activity where you’re suddenly jerked in one direction or another can result in whiplash. This can happen during basketball, gymnastics or even bowling if you accidentally get hit by the ball and spin around to one side!
Fall or Blow to the Head
In many other cases, the whiplash sufferer doesn’t have to be in any kind of particular circumstance or activity to trigger an injury like this — and instead, it can simply be the result of falling or being hit in the head. For example, if you trip while running and fall flat on your back or stomach, you could easily end up with whiplash because your body was suddenly bent over in a very unnatural way.
If you get struck in the head by another person or object, this can also cause whiplash. If you fall down and hit your head on the ground, even if it’s just a light impact that doesn’t seem too serious, it should be examined to rule out any damage to the neck — because even the smallest of injuries could quickly turn into something more severe without treatment.
For more on non-car accident causes of whiplash, or to learn about any of our whiplash or auto accident chiropractic treatments, speak to our team at Peterson Chiropractic today.