New Research Shows Physiotherapy Helps Even with Longstanding Whiplash Symptoms
There are many people out there who already have long-standing neck pain – probably due to a neck injury that happened months or years ago? What can they do to reduce their pain? The official recommendations are for people to remain active and use neck exercises.
There are many people out there who already have long-standing neck pain – probably due to a neck injury that happened months or years ago? What can they do to reduce their pain? The official recommendations are for people to remain active and use neck exercises.
Can doctors of Physios simply hand out a sheet of recommended exercises? Better yet, can we find a sheet of exercises on the internet and try those? Research suggests that these approaches are poor. It appears that professional supervision is necessary.
What are some of the Whiplash Symptoms?
Headaches
Pain in the Shoulders and Arms
Dizziness
Altered sensation such as pins and needles or numbness
Weakness
Visual and auditory symptoms
Dysphagia
Concentration difficulties
Earlier this year, the Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation published an article showing that guided exercise therapy can help patients take control of their chronic neck symptoms and make good improvements. They took 60 patients who had chronic neck problems after a whiplash injury that was six months to three years old. They put half of the group on a wait list while the other half of the group received customized physio exercises. Even though many of these patients had problems that had lasted for years, the group receiving physiotherapy experienced a 41% improvement in their pain. At the same time, the people in the waitlist group tended to get worse.
These patients attended two visits per week for three months. At first, they focused on activity of the deep neck muscles and motor control. Later, they progressed to resistance exercise.
The takeaway message here is that even if you have been enduring pain for years, you may not need to live with that level of pain – especially if that pain is from a spine injury. Safe, pain-free exercise therapy can change your life if you get the right guidance to get you started. After that training, you will be better able to implement your exercises and have more control over your level ability and how you feel.