BENEFITS CHIROPRACTORS PROVIDE AFTER CAR ACCIDENTS

While many cars are designed to withstand damage up to 12 miles per hour, the same cannot be said of the human body. Even a minor car accident can cause pain and suffering to those involved. Some studies have shown that whiplash can occur in a car accident when a vehicle has only been traveling three miles per hour. The injury you sustain in a car accident is from inertia. If you are not move and are hit causing you and your car to move at all, this can be a force several times that of gravity acting on your body in just a few 100ths of a second. That translates into a high rate of acceleration, even if only for a few feet. A chiropractor can help relieve pain and heal injuries no matter how minor or major the car accident was.

WHIPLASH AND NECK INJURIES

Whiplash occurs when the head is suddenly thrown forward, sideways or backward. It can cause destabilization to the spine and severe pain as a result of the sudden movement. Some symptoms of whiplash and other neck injuries include:

• pain in the neck
• blurred vision
• dizziness
• headaches
• reduced motion in the neck
• neck stiffness

Sometimes pain from whiplash doesn’t occur immediately following the accident but can emerge in the days, weeks or even months that follow. Seeing a chiropractor immediately after an accident can ensure that the neck is properly cared for so that long-term pain and dysfunction can be avoided.

BACK AND SPINAL INJURIES

Back pain and spinal injuries are often caused as a result of serious car accidents. The force from these accidents is enough to harm the spine and shatter bones. As a result, herniated discs, bulging discs and subluxation can result.

A chiropractor will first perform a thorough exam of the back and spine, which may include x-rays. Once any fractures or other injuries that warrant immediate medical stabilization have been ruled out, the chiropractor can then begin care with you.

SOFT TISSUE INJURIES

The soft tissue in the back can also become severely damaged as a result of a car accident. When the ligaments are stretched or torn, a sprain can result. Likewise, soft tissue injuries can also occur as strains when muscles or tendons are stretched or torn. Both can cause extreme pain that can manifest immediately or several weeks after the accident.

The chiropractor will examine the patient for any soft tissue injuries. Adjustments and massage may then be recommended to heal the tissue properly.

NUMBNESS, DIZZINESS AND WEAKNESS

When the force of the accident jars the neck or spine, the network of nerves that travel from these areas can be affected. This can result in feelings of numbness, dizziness or weakness in the arms, hands, legs or feet. A chiropractor can realign the neck or spine after an accident, improving the flow of blood to these areas and healing the nerves.

The human body wasn’t meant to sustain even small amounts of force than can occur in a fender-bender. A chiropractor should always be contacted after any accident to check for any whiplash, neck injuries, back or spinal injuries or soft tissue damage that may have occurred.