Whiplash

A car accident can leave you shaken in more ways than one. Even a low-speed collision can leave you with a stiff, sore neck, headaches, or pain that doesn’t show up until a day or two later. If you’re still feeling it weeks after the accident, you’re not alone. At Serene Chiropractic in Worcester, MA, we help you understand what happened to your neck and support your recovery.

What’s going on?

Whiplash happens when the head is suddenly thrown forward and back, like in a rear-end collision, a sports hit, or a fall. That quick motion can strain the muscles, ligaments, and joints of the neck. Symptoms often include neck pain and stiffness, headaches at the base of the skull, shoulder or upper back pain, and sometimes dizziness or trouble concentrating. Symptoms can be delayed, so it’s worth getting checked even if you felt fine at first.

Common contributors

Muscle & ligament strain

The sudden motion can overstretch the soft tissues that support your neck, leading to pain, tightness, and muscle guarding.

Joint irritation

The small joints of the neck can become irritated and stiff, which can limit how far you can turn or tilt your head.

Guarding & inactivity

It’s natural to protect a sore neck, but holding it still for too long can lead to more stiffness and a slower recovery.

How can we help?

Once you’ve been medically evaluated, we assess how your neck and upper back are moving. Care may include gentle adjustments, soft tissue work, and therapies like interferential muscle stimulation, therapeutic ultrasound, and cold laser to help support healing and ease pain. As you improve, we add exercises to restore strength and range of motion. Staying gently active is one of the best things you can do after whiplash, and we’ll guide you on how to do that safely.

When to see a doctor first

After any accident, call 911 or get medical care right away if you have:

-Severe neck pain, or pain right over the bones of the spine
-Numbness, tingling, or weakness in the arms or legs
-Confusion, vomiting, a worsening headache, or loss of consciousness
-Trouble with balance, walking, or speaking

If you were in a car accident and haven’t been evaluated yet, start with your doctor or an urgent care. We’re happy to work alongside them.

Recovering from an accident takes the right support

Chiropractic care may be a helpful part of your plan. Learn more about how we work with adults.

Explore adult chiropractic

Still have questions?

Learn what to expect at your first visit,
which insurance plans we work with,
or meet our providers.