WHIPLASH
The Hidden Neurological Injury Behind Neck Pain, Dizziness & Headaches
The Brain & Body Clinic – St. Petersburg, FL
Dr. Theo Berlingeri, DC
Whiplash is one of the most misunderstood injuries. Most people think it’s simply a “neck strain,” but the truth is far more complex.
Patients describe it as:
“My neck hasn’t felt right since the accident.”
“I get headaches and brain fog I never had before.”
“My balance feels off.”
“My jaw and upper back are constantly tight.”
“I didn’t even get hit that hard — but everything changed.”
Whiplash is not just a soft-tissue injury.
It is a neurological event affecting:
The upper cervical alignment (C0–C2)
The brainstem
The vestibular system
The TMJ and cranial nerves
The autonomic nervous system
Proprioceptive mapping from the neck and shoulders
When the neck is rapidly accelerated and decelerated, even at low speeds, the atlas (C1) can shift and distort the sensory signals your brain depends on to stay stable and pain-free.
This is why symptoms often last months or years without the right correction.
Why Whiplash Creates Long-Lasting Symptoms
When the atlas misaligns during a collision or fall, several things happen simultaneously:
✔ Suboccipital muscles tighten reflexively
They contain some of the highest proprioceptor density in the body.
✔ Brainstem irritation increases
Leading to headaches, dizziness, nausea, fight-or-flight activation, and sensory hypersensitivity.
✔ Vestibular + proprioceptive mismatch develops
The brain receives bad data → instability, dizziness, visual strain.
✔ TMJ becomes imbalanced
Creating jaw tension, ear symptoms, and facial pain.
✔ Postural patterns shift
The body compensates → chronic muscle fatigue, stiffness, burning pain.
✔ Autonomic dysregulation begins
Whiplash can cause “latent” POTS-like symptoms, heart racing, or anxiety.
This is why someone can have “normal imaging” but still feel completely off.
Whiplash affects function, not always structure visible on MRI.
Symptoms of Whiplash Often Go Beyond the Neck
Common whiplash-related symptoms include:
Neck pain or stiffness
Headaches starting at the base of the skull
Dizziness or disequilibrium
Brain fog
TMJ tension or popping
Visual strain or motion sensitivity
Shoulder, trap, or mid-back pain
Tingling in arms or hands
Post-concussion symptoms
Difficulty concentrating
Fatigue
Ear pressure or tinnitus
These all trace back to the upper cervical, vestibular, and brainstem interplay following whiplash.
How The Brain & Body Clinic Treats Whiplash
Whiplash recovery requires a multi-system neurological approach, not just stretching or massage.
Our method restores alignment, recalibrates sensory systems, and reduces brainstem irritation to break chronic pain cycles.
We integrate:
Advanced Orthogonal Upper Cervical Chiropractic
Functional Neurology testing
Applied Kinesiology (jaw/neck/shoulder interplay)
Torque Release Technique (TRT)
Neuro Emotional Technique (NET)
Postural and proprioceptive retraining
This gives a complete picture of how the injury altered your brain-body connection.
Upper Cervical Chiropractic (Advanced Orthogonal)
Upper Cervical care is essential after whiplash because the atlas is often displaced by even low-speed impacts.
Benefits include:
Reduced neck pain & tension
Improved balance & spatial orientation
Relief from headaches & dizziness
Better TMJ coordination
Reduced nerve irritation
Relaxation of suboccipital muscles
Better posture and muscle activation
Most patients feel relief once the atlas is gently, precisely realigned.
👉 https://www.drtheochiropractic.com/upper-cervical
Functional Neurology: Rebuilding the Sensory Systems Damaged by Whiplash
We assess:
Vestibular reflexes
Eye movements (saccades, tracking)
Balance and postural reflexes
Cervical proprioception
Cranial nerve function
Motor control patterns
Whiplash often disrupts the “neuro map” of your head and neck — we help restore it.
Applied Kinesiology
AK reveals the hidden consequences of whiplash:
Inhibited deep neck flexors
Overactive suboccipitals
TMJ strain
Cranial distortions
Weak shoulder stabilizers
Breathing pattern changes
Correcting these imbalances restores structural and sensory stability.
👉 https://www.drtheochiropractic.com/applied-kinesiology
Torque Release Technique (TRT)
Whiplash almost always triggers sympathetic overdrive — your body stays stuck in fight-or-flight.
TRT helps:
Reduce spinal cord tension
Improve adaptability
Calm anxiety-like symptoms
Improve sleep and recovery
👉 https://www.drtheochiropractic.com/torque-release-technique
NET (Neuro Emotional Technique)
Whiplash is traumatic — often emotionally and physically.
NET helps release the stored stress response that keeps muscles tight and the autonomic system on edge.
👉 https://www.drtheochiropractic.com/net
Signs Your Whiplash Is Upper Cervical–Driven
✔ Symptoms didn’t improve with standard care
✔ Pain begins at the base of the skull
✔ Dizziness or vertigo started after the accident
✔ You get headaches that radiate forward
✔ Turning your head triggers symptoms
✔ TMJ tension worsened after the injury
✔ Brain fog or visual strain persists
✔ Imaging is “normal,” but you still feel off
If this sounds familiar — the atlas is almost always involved.
Why Whiplash Patients Choose The Brain & Body Clinic
✔ One of St. Pete’s only Advanced Orthogonal providers
✔ A deeply neurological, sensory-based approach
✔ Gentle, non-invasive corrections
✔ Focus on long-term stability — not constant adjusting
✔ Ideal for post-accident and post-concussion patients
✔ Integrates emotional, structural, and brainstem systems
This is where patients come when everything else has failed.
Let’s Correct the Root Cause of Your Whiplash Symptoms
You don’t have to live with instability, pain, or dizziness after your accident.
Your body can reset — when the right systems are restored.
👉 Book Your First Visit
https://www.drtheochiropractic.com/contact
👉 Learn About Our Brain–Body Approach
https://www.drtheochiropractic.com
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