Although primarily the result of car accidents, whiplash injuries can also be associated with work-related accidents, sports injuries, and amusement park rides. Essentially, anything that causes the head to be moved violently and suddenly back and forth — or sideways — can lead to whiplash.

The symptoms of of a whiplash injury include back pain, neck pain, neck stiffness, headache, shoulder pain, low back pain, and numbness or pain in the feet, hips, or hands. Some whiplash injuries cause its sufferer to experience dizziness, blurred vision, decreased concentration, or impaired memory.

How Chiropractic Care Can Help

Care from one of our Wallace, Wilmington, or Clinton chiropractors helps to restore movement, strengthen muscles, and reduce chronic symptoms of a whiplash injury. Immediately after a whiplash injury, our chiropractor will first address any inflammation associated with the whiplash. As the muscle injury begins to heal, treatment strategies may include gentle spinal manipulation, mobilization of spinal joints, muscle stimulation, muscle relaxation, and exercises.

In many cases, our primary treatment for whiplash injuries is spinal manipulation, which involves gentle movement or thrust of the affected joint in the direction of its restriction. Muscle stimulation or relaxation is helpful in cases of muscle dysfunction, and involves gentle stretches to the affected muscle to relieve both neck pain and pain in your back. Finger pressure directed at trigger points may also be employed to relieve pain related to tightened muscles.

For whiplash injuries involving disc derangement, our Wilmington chiropractor may incorporate a series of McKenzie exercises into your treatment plan. McKenzie exercises are simple exercises that can also be done at home, once the proper technique is learned in our office.

If you have had a car accident and suspect you have a whiplash injury, you should immediately seek an evaluation from one of our chiropractors to determine the extent of the injury and damage. Even if you don't have symptoms right away, it's critical to seek medical care because whiplash symptoms can take weeks, months, and sometimes years to develop.

Delay in whiplash injury treatment can lead to complications and a longer, more painful recovery time. Beginning chiropractic rehabilitation as early as possible after a whiplash injury not only helps with your pain management, but increases your chances of making a full recovery — without being faced with recurring, chronic symptoms.

Have you ever had whiplash? What were your symptoms?

Noninvasive Pro-Adjuster Chiropractic Treatments

If the thought of cracking, twisting or popping your spine is the only thing keeping you from making your next appointment in our Wilmington chiropractic office, then we have good news for you. We are pleased to offer our patients at Graybar Chiropractic and Rehabilitation Centers a high-tech and noninvasive form of treatment utilizing Pro-Adjuster technology.

What the Pro-Adjuster Means to Back Pain Sufferers

The FDA approved Pro-Adjuster has a piezoelectric sensor which registers an accurate and very precise picture of each vertebra’s fluidity or rigidity. Our chiropractors are then able to use this data to narrow down the problem area of the extremity or spine. The device then uses a kind of uninterrupted oscillating gentle tapping force to precisely adjust the area until mobility and motion have been regained. The machine shuts off as soon as it senses that the adjusted segment is moving more freely than before.

The Pro-Adjuster treatment is painless. You can get the same or better results as forceful manual adjustments without any discomfort. If you’ve had a car accident or suffer from back pain or other issues, then our chiropractors may suggest Pro-Adjuster treatments for you.

The Pro-Adjuster can be used for a variety of conditions and symptoms including: headache, back or neck pain, nerve issues, sleeping problems, arthritis and even mood swings. This treatment can be effective on infants, children, adults and the elderly.

After a careful exam getting detailed information from you on your suffering or condition, our chiropractors may decide that you are a good candidate for Pro-Adjuster treatments. At Graybar Chiropractic and Rehabilitation we are committed to providing each and every patient with the best care possible. Our Clinton, Wallace and Wilmington chiropractic doctors are ready to see you at any of our three convenient locations. Our centers also offer massage therapy to patients as well.

Have you had Pro-Adjuster treatments? If so, how has having these treatments helped you?

We see a large number of patients here at Graybar Chiropractic and Rehabilitation Centers who are suffering from back, neck pain, or an auto injury. Most of our patients come to us because they are seeking pain relief, but they want to avoid dangerous surgeries or prescription medications. In this blog, we want to inform our patients about a non-invasive method of treatment, known as spinal decompression. Our Center, which has three locations in Wilmington, Wallace, and Clinton, is the only VAX-D Genesis 2 Spinal Disc Decompression provider in all of Southeastern North Carolina.

The VAX-D Disc Decompression is the leading non-invasive treatment used today for pain in the back and neck areas. Additionally, it is considered by many medical professionals to be the foremost option for treating chronic spine pain. Results with VAX-D Disc Decompression are often so remarkable that this procedure is considered by many to be a superior choice over surgical intervention.

Our Chiropractors Stand Behind Spinal Decompression Treatment

The principle behind spinal decompression is a simple one: The spine is gently separated so that it can be realigned into the proper place. The VAX-D Genesis technology is at the very forefront of the spinal treatment field. It uses a logarithmic curve and biofeedback to custom tailor a treatment plan for each patient.

The VAX-D disc decompression is not just another spinal decompression method: Our chiropractors have trained extensively in this type of pain management treatment. This is a proven therapy for both chronic and sporadic pain, and is particularly helpful with disc problems, facet joint diseases, and any "referred pain."  A herniated, degenerating, or bulging disc can cause shooting pains that extend all the way down the arms and legs, but the VAX-D decompression can relieve this pain.

Recovery time is extremely short, and our patients who use VAX-D may combine this therapy with other therapies for even better results. For example, our chiropractors may design a treatment plan for a  car accident victim that includes VAX-D treatment along with massage therapy to speed healing and get patients back on their feet again.

VAX-D is a cutting-edge medical technology, and we are proud to be the only provider of this highly successful decompression method in our area. Questions about what VAX-D is and how it can work for you? Please leave us a question or comment so our chiropractor and staff can chat with you!

Spring is in full swing in North Carolina and summer is right around the corner. With the nicer weather comes the opportunity to get outside and enjoy the weather with fun activities like hiking, biking, swimming, volleyball, and baseball to name a few. Are you mentally ready to go out and enjoy these outdoor activities, but are physically holding back because of a back pain, neck pain or sports injury that limits your mobility? At Graybar Chiropractic and Rehabilitation Centers, we can help you find relief from pain and increase your mobility. We want you to get out there and enjoy the summer with your friends and family.

In addition to chiropractic care, we offer massage therapy at our three locations in Wilmington, Wallace and Clinton. Massage therapy has a wide range of applications and benefits, especially for active individuals that enjoy sports and fitness. The most common types of massage are Swedish, Chair, Sports, and Deep Tissue and all four are a great complement to chiropractic care. The benefits of massage can include pain relief, increased mobility and flexibility, mental and muscular relaxation, and release of the body’s natural painkiller – endorphins.

While it is a great idea to schedule your mother for a massage for Mother’s Day, it is also a great idea to schedule yourself for a massage. Even if you are feeling great and not experiencing any aches or pains, a massage can help you reach your optimal performance level. Massages are a great way to prepare for physical exertion and can also help prevent injuries. 

At Graybar Chiropractic & Rehabilitation Centers, we encourage patients to join that summer soccer league, play on their employer’s softball team, and train for that half-marathon. We recommend preparing for these types of activities by checking in with us and scheduling a massage to prevent possible injuries. Stay safe and enjoy the summer weather!

What are your favorite outdoor summer activities? Do you have any fitness goals for this summer?