When a person is in an automobile accident, it's important to be evaluated by a trained medical professional. Evan at low speeds, it's possible to have whiplash or other soft tissue injury. The sudden stop can cause unavoidable stress to the neck, back and spine. Concussions, neck pain, back pain and other joint complaints are also possible.
Chiropractic care has proven effective for pain relief, restoration of function, mobility and range of motion.
When your vehicle is stopped suddenly, your body wants to continue its forward motion. While seatbelts, steering wheels and other parts of the car stop, your head stays in place momentarily before initially snapping forward and then backwards.
This rapid motion affects the muscles and ligaments around the bones involved. When stretched and quickly released, the ligaments are strained and muscles have to work harder to hold everything in place. Muscle spasms, inflamed joints and tissues and pain are often the result.
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Symptoms from automobile collisions don’t always show up right away. They can take weeks or months to present which can make it difficult to prove the origin for insurance purposes.
If an assessment is not done soon after the accident, when the problem is discovered, it can linger for a long time. Long-term affects from untreated whiplash or trauma include: spinal degeneration, bone spurs, osteophyte formation, increased stiffness and joint immobility.
Irritation and inflammation around the disc moves to the nerve causing chronic pain symptoms; like pain radiating down the arms and/or legs and headaches.
Just as every person is different, every injury is different as well. Although there are different ways we can treat whiplash or other automobile-related injuries, the objective is the same-- reduce the patient’s neck pain and back pain as quickly as possible.
Your customized treatment plan may include the following:
Chiropractic Adjustments: Our primary treatment for subluxation of the neck vertebrae from a automobile injury is a chiropractic adjustment. Traumas can cause malposition or restrictions within joints and irritate the surround nerves and tissues. We carefully and gently adjust the appropriate vertebrae, relieving painful pressure on the spinal nerves.
Relaxing and Stretching Muscles: Muscle dysfunction can also result from a trauma. To treat the affected muscles, we will carefully stretch them to relieve excessive tension or spasms. If a muscle is knotted, trigger point treatments, using a finger pressure technique directly on that knot might be used.
Electronic Muscle Stimulation: A painless electrical current is used to stimulate the injured muscles. The electrical current causes the muscles to rapidly contract and relax to promote faster rehabilitation and increased range of motion. This therapy can also be used to manipulate nerves to reduce pain and discomfort.
In-Office and Home Exercises: A program of stretching and strengthening exercises is often recommended. The program also helps to restore the patient’s range of motion, reduce the affects of tight muscles and improve spinal strength and stabilization.
The time frame for recovery varies depending on the severity of the injury and how soon it’s addressed. The longer care is delayed, the more likely it is that fibrous tissue and adhesions will have to be broken down before healing can start.
