Whip Lash

Unfortunately during the winter season crashes happen. You could be on the hill or in your car, regardless where you are take all precautions to stay safe. That being said accidents can occur at any time. 

Let's talk whip lash.

What is it?

Whip lash is when your head suddenly moves in a forward or backwards direction followed by a snapping ( or whipping ) back in the opposite direction pushing your neck muscles beyond their normal range of motion. 

In short your muscles all aroun your neck are strained ( see sprains and strains ) causin pain across the front and back of our neck.

The first thing to do when you have whip lash is follow these four steps :

Rest - relax

Ice - see cold hydrotherapy blog

Compression - light massage

Elevation - keep your head up

Symptoms of whip lash :

Dizziness

Neck pain and stiffness 

Headaches

Fatigue

Jaw pain

Arm pain and weakness

Ringing in the ear

Back pain

Many whip lash victims won't feel any symptoms till 24 to 48 hours after the initial incident. Once symptoms do occur they should only take a few days to subside. Seeing your local physician is always recommended regardless of the severity. 

Nathaniel Porter-Gowan,RMT 

RMT vs Physio vs Chiro

I see many clients here at Kalola boutique and Spa. Some come in for relaxation and other for therapy to help those lingering aches and pains. Many of my clients have a physiotherapist or chiropractor in there home town. Often I am asked what the difference between the three professions are an how they differ benificially. 

Here are all three defined. 

Phisiotherapy : are primary health care professionals with a significant role in health promotion and treatment of injury and disease. They combine their in depth knowledge of the body and how it works with specialized hands on clinical skills to assess, diagnose and treat symptoms of illness, injury or disability. 

Laymens terms : tissue rebuilding 

Chiropractics : specialists in manual adjustments of the vertebrae of the spine and other joints of he body. Adjustments help relieve pain and restore normal functioning to the joint and supporting muscles and ligaments.

Laments terms : joint manipulation 

Massage Therapy : consists primarily of hands on manipulation of the soft tissue of the body, specifically, the muscles, connective tissue, tendons, ligaments, and joints for the purpose of optimize health. 

Massage therapy treatment has a therapeutic effect on the body and optimizes health am well being by acing on the muscular, nervous, and circulatory system ; physical dysfunctions and pain and the effects of stress can be relieved or prevented.

Lents terms : tissue manipulation

So there you have it. All work to benifit your health. All are effective treatments to maintain, prevent, and relieve symptoms related to your body. Find the one that works for you the best or combine them all for your optimum health. 

Nathaniel Porter-Gowan, RMT

Strain or Sprain

Let's face it, injuries happen at the hill. Your body gets fatigued and some times dosnt respond as quick as it needs to. You push yourself harder or you finally get a chance to try that trick you have been waiting all summer to do. You trip and fall, catch an edge or slid on a patch of ice. Pain shoots up you leg. You know somethings wrong as you hobble to the lodge. Ski patrol says you sprained your ankle or the EMS on site tells you you have a strain in your right legs. 

So what's the difference?

A sprain is an injury to the ligament that connects bone to bone. It helps provide stability to your joints keeping them intact and moving correctly. When you sprain your ankle for example you tear the ligament causing the joint to move beyond it's normal range of motion. This cause pain, instability and if sever enough the inability to move the limb at all. 

So what's a strain?

A strain is the stretching or tearing of a tendon that connects muscle to bone. This happens when the muscle is stretched then contracted quickly beyond it's capability. 

In an acute strain you often feel pain, have muscle spasms, limited range of motion, and lose strength in that muscle. 

A chronic strain happen over time. They build up from constant over use and repetitive stress. When this happens the tendon gets inflamed and can cause tendinitis, an injury that is painful and not easily treated. 

So if you fall and feel something not quite right get it checked by a local physician right away. Leaving a strain or sprain untreated can cause further injuries with long term effects. If treated right away most strains and sprains will heal without much complications and have you back on the hill before you know it.

Nathaniel Porter-Gowan, RMT