A brace, using a special collar is also popular to immobilise the neck and allow the injury to heal.
Cases that have persistent symptoms over many months or even years may be due to disruption of the intervertebral disc, the cushion of cartilage between the vertebral bodies.
Operations to remove these discs and then to fuse the vertebral bodies together may be undertaken. But the results are not altogether satisfactory.
The brace, although favored by many doctors, does tend to result in considerable stiffness of the neck.
This should be under the direction of a doctor and carried out by a qualified physiotherapist.
Treatment may take some months, but the results are worthwhile.
Mobilisation is different from manipulation. In the latter a sudden sharp movement is carried out to break down adhesions, or to reposition subluxated joints.
This may produce good results, but in between manipulations, adhesions reform and lack of mobility occurs.
*623/71/1*
