Stiff neck after a crash, fall, or hard hit? Let’s find out what the jolt affected.
Trusted, personal care in neighborhood clinics throughout Greater Milwaukee.
Whiplash is a neck injury caused by a sudden, forceful back-and-forth movement of the head and neck. It often happens when another car hits yours from behind. It can also happen during sports, falls, or other impacts. Doctors sometimes call it a neck sprain or strain, or a whiplash-associated disorder.
Symptoms don't always start right away. Some people notice pain or stiffness within hours. Others wake up sore a day or two later. Many people feel better within a few weeks, but some symptoms can last longer.
neck sprains and strains treated in U.S. emergency rooms after car crashes in 20001
of all injuries to car occupants treated in emergency rooms that year1
the age group with the highest rate; women had a higher rate than men1
before some symptoms appear; others take a day or more2
rear-end crashes caused injuries on Wisconsin roads in 20248
Whiplash can affect more than your neck. Symptoms vary from person to person and can change over time.
Turning or tilting your head feels harder than it should.
Driving and checking your blind spot get difficult.
Aching between the shoulder blades, sometimes into an arm.
Can show up a day or two after a crash.
Pain or tightness around the jaw.
In the arms or hands. Mention it to your doctor right away.
Feeling unsteady, especially when turning your head quickly.
Pain makes it hard to rest, and poor sleep adds to pain.
If it's new after an injury, get a medical evaluation.
Symptoms often show up late. Learn why in our guide to delayed neck pain after a car accident.
Some symptoms need a hospital, not a chiropractic clinic. Several of these signs can point to a concussion. Once a medical provider has cleared you, we're here to help with the neck pain and stiffness that often linger.
Whiplash vs. concussion: what's the difference?Call 911 or go to the emergency room if you have:
Whiplash happens when your head is jolted forward and back faster than your neck muscles can control. That force can strain the muscles, joints, and ligaments in your neck.
A turned head changes how the force travels through your neck.
Muscles that aren't braced have less time to protect the neck.
Prior whiplash or existing neck or low back pain is linked to slower recovery.3
Greater force generally means a greater chance of injury.3
Snow-covered roads were recorded in 1,542 Wisconsin injury crashes in 2024, and icy roads in 1,070.8 Following too closely, a common cause of rear-end crashes, was cited 2,382 times in injury crashes that year. Icy sidewalks and driveways add the risk of falls.
Doctors often sort whiplash into grades from 0 to IV.7 Most whiplash injuries are grade I or II. Your exam helps show where your injury fits, which shapes how your care begins.
| Grade | What it means |
|---|---|
| Grade 0 | No neck complaints and nothing found on the exam. |
| Grade I | Neck pain, stiffness, or tenderness, but no other signs on the exam. |
| Grade II | Neck pain plus signs like reduced movement or specific tender spots. |
| Grade III | Neck pain plus nerve-related signs, like weakness, numbness, or reflex changes. |
| Grade IV | A fracture or dislocation. This needs emergency medical care. |
Whiplash pain comes from real changes in your neck. Muscles tighten to guard the injury. Ligaments get strained. The small joints between the bones of your neck can become restricted, and the muscles around them keep working overtime.
Your whiplash chiropractor starts by listening. Then your doctor looks for where movement has broken down, with a full exam and X-rays if needed. Your doctor explains what they found and talks through care options with you. You decide what's right for you.
Care is natural and drug-free, designed around your injury, your medical history, your daily life, and your goals. It starts gently and progresses as your neck heals.
Doctors, physical therapists, chiropractors, and researchers wrote care guidelines together for recent neck injuries. They recommend a mix of hands-on care, exercise, and knowing what to expect.4,5
No single location offers every service. Ask your doctor whether a combined approach makes sense for you.
Say so, and your doctor won't. Gentle joint movement, muscle work, and exercise are other ways to get where you want to go. You choose your care.
Gentle, targeted adjustments help restore motion to neck joints that became restricted, which can ease strain on nearby muscles.
Slow, controlled movements help loosen a stiff neck when a full adjustment isn't the right fit yet. That's common in the first days after an injury.
Guided exercises rebuild the muscles that support your neck so it can handle daily life again.
Tips for sleeping, driving, and desk work help protect your neck between visits.
Your doctor explains what they found in plain language, so you know what's going on and what you can do between visits.
Many people feel noticeably better within a few weeks. Recovery isn't always complete, though. A major international review found that about half of people with whiplash still had some neck pain a year after their injury. People who started with more intense pain or more symptoms tended to recover more slowly.6
Your timeline depends on your injury, your symptoms, your daily demands, and how your body responds to care.
Read our guide to how long whiplash lastspeople with whiplash still had some neck pain one year after their injury.6
We’re in-network with most insurance plans, including Medicare, and our team can check your benefits before you come in. No insurance? New patients can start with the $29 first visit.
Your doctor asks about the injury, your symptoms, your daily activities, and your goals.
Your doctor checks movement, tenderness, strength, reflexes, and sensation. X-rays are taken if needed.
Your doctor explains what they found and walks you through care options. You decide what's right for you.
Treatment begins at visit two. In acute cases, your doctor may decide same-day treatment is appropriate.
You'll see the same doctor as your care continues, so the person treating you knows your history and your progress.
Our chiropractors care for neck injuries every week. These doctors bring backgrounds that fit patients recovering from an injury.
Dr. Doebert's training includes baseline concussion assessments and sports physicals, and she knows whiplash from her own car accident.
"[First-person line from Dr. Doebert about her own whiplash recovery.]"More about Dr. Doebert
Dr. Weber focuses on sports chiropractic, injury rehabilitation, and recovery after athletic events.
More about Dr. WeberDr. Corsi's training includes impairment rating, which can matter after a car accident.
More about Dr. CorsiPersonal care in neighborhood clinics, with more than 1,400 five-star Google reviews from real patients.
Winners and finalists, including our doctors and practices before they joined us. See every award, with sources
Every clinic offers chiropractic care for whiplash, close to home or work. Milwaukee County had more injury crashes than any other Wisconsin county in 2024: 5,654 crashes that injured 7,946 people.8
Let a doctor close to home listen, look for what's behind your neck pain, and talk through care that fits your life.
More life in every day.