Chiropractors Use Adjustments to Alleviate Head and Neck Pain



Posted: Thursday, February 02, 2012

by Dr. Gerry Hinley, D.C.
Integrative Physical Medicine of Chicago

Headaches and neck pain can be the result of poor posture, stress, or accidents that jar the spinal column out of alignment. If you've been in a car accident in particular, it's likely that you've experienced or are still suffering from the physical trauma of being violently jarred during the accident. A chiropractor has the training and knowledge needed to help bring your head, neck and back into proper alignment again.

A headache may be related to stressful situations going on in your life or to something as simple as poor posture. However, headaches can be a result of an auto accident that has wrenched the victim's neck out of its proper position. A patient may have a headache, known as referred pain, along with pain in the neck. In these cases, the head hurts when the neck is turned in certain ways, or the victim may experience muscle spasms. This type of pain may be the result of whiplash caused by an auto accident. Whiplash is commonly defined as injury to the neck when the head and neck column are suddenly and violently thrust backward and then forward. The neck discs and ligaments are injured when they move well beyond their usual range of motion.

Chiropractors offer chiropractic adjustments that can help the cervical spine, or neck, return as much as possible to its condition before the auto accident. A chiropractic adjustment gently moves the cervical spine in the direction of the injury, either by using a short thrust or gentle movement in the direction of the injury. In addition, muscle relaxation or stimulation can be gently but repeatedly stretched to help the muscle that is unusually tight or tense due to injury. A chiropractor can also provide focused pressure on trigger points to help relieve the pain related to the injury.

Whiplash can become a debilitating chronic condition if it's not treated promptly and properly. A chiropractor will first treat the pain resulting from the severe trauma to the neck and spinal column. Once the pain has been alleviated, the chiropractor can begin focusing on helping the patient regain the movement and range of motion needed for a normal lifestyle. Through manipulation, stress relief and encouragement, the patient who may feel he'll never return to the activities he enjoyed before the accident can gradually add them back to his daily life.

If you or someone you know has been in a car accident and are experiencing some of the symptoms listed above, you should go see a chiropractor and with the use of X-rays determine if you have a larger underlying problem that needs to be addressed.

Dr. Gerry Hinley, D.C. was raised in Elmhurst, IL and made his decision to become a chiropractor after his experience with a disabling injury as a college high jumper and basketball player. Dr. Hinley was fascinated with Chiropractic's philosophy that taught that a person could heal from within, without the use of drugs, surgery or their harmful side effects. After graduating in 1989 with his doctorate degree in chiropractic he opened what is today LifeSource Health and Wellness Center.
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