Whiplash is the most common injury that results from car accidents. Sudden acceleration or deceleration causes your neck to be “whipped” back and forth. Your muscles, tendons, discs, and nerves may stretch, tear, or dislocate because they have been extended far beyond their intended limits. This has a multitude of negative health effects.
Your back may become misaligned. Spinal misalignment, or subluxations, can pinch nerves, blocking signals from traveling through your nervous system, which can bring about a host of other issues. Your neck may become stiff and painful to turn. The force of the impact may cause a herniated disk, or the displacement of one of your spinal disks, which provide cushioning between your vertebrae. The jerking movements that cause whiplash can also cause concussions.
Visiting a chiropractor is one of the best ways to find relief from whiplash. A chiropractor will look at your symptoms, determine why they are occurring, and develop a treatment plan tailored to you as an individual. Chiropractors have been trained to help treat whiplash through physical manipulations to bring your body back into balance. They will also provide lifestyle guidance, such as ergonomic (posture) advice, diet tips, and exercise plans.
6 benefits of chiropractic care after a car accident
Reduce pain and discomfort
Car accident-related injuries can result in pain throughout your entire body, not just in the immediately affected areas. Herniated disks, for example, cause weakness, numbness, or pain that can radiate throughout your body, including the arms and legs. Some also develop strong headaches. But the good news is that chiropractic adjustments will bring your entire body relief through the release of pain-reducing hormones.
Restore your full range of motion
When your muscles and vertebrae are knocked out of place, you may feel your neck and back become stiff and difficult to move. This can make simple tasks like walking, sitting, or even holding items extremely difficult. Chiropractors will use physical manipulations to bring your spine back into alignment and restore blood flow to injured areas so that your muscles can heal. This way, you’ll be able to move freely again.
Treat hidden injuries
Some whiplash-related injuries, such as certain muscle tears, don’t present themselves immediately and don’t show in x-rays. As a result, you may go on about your life thinking you have nothing to worry about, only to start feeling pain later. Sometimes, the adrenaline hides the pain from an injury in the immediate term. In some extreme cases, however, it can take months for pain to appear, and the problem may have grown more severe during this time. This can present complications not only for your health, but for filing insurance claims. If you only notice an injury months later, an insurance company may try to claim it is unrelated. To save yourself both physical and financial pain, see a chiropractor as soon as possible after an accident so that they can find hidden injuries early.
No drugs or surgery
If a car accident has left you hurting, it may be tempting to reach for the painkillers.
But using medication only masks your pain and cannot heal injuries. This makes it easier to ignore the root causes of the pain and may mislead you as to how much you’ve recovered. Painkillers can also be addictive, and their over-prescription has caused a massive opioid epidemic. Chiropractic will address your injuries head-on so that you can be healed without having to rely on medicine for relief.
Fight scar tissue
As a result of certain injuries, your body may create scar tissue as part of the healing process. Scar tissue is different from regular tissue – it is unorganized, simply filling in the gaps where regular tissue fibers have been torn. It is also stiffer, which can make movement difficult and cause soreness. Scar tissue is especially concerning after a car accident because it can easily develop in your back, misaligning your spine. A chiropractor will target areas where scar tissue has formed, using instruments or physical manipulations to loosen it up.
Peace of mind
Car accidents, even at low speeds, can cause a variety of health problems. And that’s the last thing you want to be worried about at a stressful time. Between all the phone calls with insurance about liability and damages, you already have a lot on your mind. But seeing a chiropractor will help you rest easy. Chiropractic works with the body non-invasively to help it heal itself, so it’s a great option if you have personal objections to medication or surgery. For the most effective care, you should begin chiropractic treatment within three days after the accident, or as early as possible. Contact us now to get started.
