According to Fannin Litigation Group, P.S., car accidents are one of the leading causes of injury. Whiplash is one of the most common injuries resulting from a car accident and whether you got rear-ended or T-boned, your neck takes the brunt of a high impact accidents as you tense for the crash. If you've been diagnosed with whiplash and are still hurting, you should seriously consider massage to treat the worst symptoms. 

The Effects of Whiplash
Whiplash is so common that you might underestimate the damage it can do to your body, and refuse to get treated. Not only is it incredibly painful to begin with, the damage gradually gets worse if it's left untreated. There can be soft tissue damage at the site of injury, restricted motion, headaches, dizziness, nausea, and vertigo. 

How Does Massage Help Whiplash?
Massage is therapeutic to whiplash patients because it provides relaxation for the muscles and relieves muscular pain. Muscle massage also enhances blood flow in the tissues, speeding the healing process because more oxygen is reaching the damaged tissues. 
Specific bodywork techniques also relieve whiplash pain and prevent chronic issues from developing. Myofascial techniques restore fluidity to the fascia, so the muscles and ligaments are able to move without inhibition. Friction-based massage methods break down scar tissue and eliminate stiffness. Trigger point massage breaks down knots in the muscles to relieve tension and prevent headaches. 
Massage seems counterintuitive to the days when whiplash was automatically treated with a cervical collar, strict rest, and muscle relaxers. Research has shown that not moving the damaged muscles prolongs the healing, and can even create more damage. While this doesn't mean you can get back to your daily runs or yoga practice, slow, deliberate movements will promote healing and prevent any permanent or long-term damage from occurring. 

Are There Any Disadvantages?
Most massage methods rate very low in creating negative side effects when licensed massage therapists are involved. Massage is contraindicated in people with congestive heart failure, kidney disease, phlebitis, blood clots, or bleeding disorders. You should always consult with your primary care physician in charge of your whiplash care to ensure massage therapy is a safe, viable option for you. Massage may be a great treatment option, but it needs to be used in conjunction with medical treatment from your doctor for the optimal results. 

Whiplash may be common, but that doesn't mean it isn't a serious injury. Anything involving the neck should always be taken seriously and treated immediately.