Massage Therapy Brings Relief from Whiplash Pain

From Institute for Integrative Healthcare’s 7/2/18 edition, Jenny Baltazar’s, LMT, RYT article was very positive! Whiplash injury comes on following acute trauma to the body and may cause chronic pain for many years. The whole body’s caught off guard, and the sudden impact leads to tears in muscle tissue. Early massage therapy intervention is best to help relieve both the physical and emotional pain of whiplash. It’s a traumatic injury that significantly impacts the central nervous system; the spine, surrounding muscles, tendons, and ligaments can all suffer damage too of course. Typically, patients benefit from several sessions close together in the 1st few months, then regular massage therapy (1-2 x/month) throughout life for health maintenance. People may feel little or no pain immediately; the body becomes numb in response to the shock as a way of “protecting” it from the true expression of disturbance to the body. Slowly (w/in hours, days, and weeks), stiffness and pain develop. In this acute phase, energy work and conversation are what’s needed. General massage therapy helps relax muscles, helps control pain, and decreases muscle spasms. According to Bentley, “Massage increases the amount of oxygen that reaches the healing tissues and opens them up so they can receive more oxygen and nutrients, thus speeding the healing process”. Next, the tears (to any tissue) will begin to form scar tissue for healing and protection. A therapist should work with this scar tissue using cross-fiber friction, myofascial release, craniosacral therapy, and trigger point therapy. Lastly, the following are the 2 big considerations the author stressed: 1. the patient should decide whether hot or cold therapy is best due to the specifics of the treatment 2. current research shows that neck mobility’s important for whiplash recovery, so a therapist should advise simple, gentle stretches!