Chiropractic Care for Auto Injuries / Car Accidents

From minor bumps to severe collisions, car accidents are extremely common with estimates suggesting that as many as 16,500 occur in the United States every single day. Car accidents are also a leading cause of injury, although the severity of the physical damage to the body sustained following a vehicle collision can vary significantly. If you have been involved in a car accident, one of your immediate priorities following the incident should be schedule an appointment with your chiropractor – even if you don’t feel injured. 

 

Symptoms of Car Accident Injuries Might Not Appear Immediately

One of the most important things to remember about auto accidents is that some of the injuries that you may have sustained might not be visible immediately. Many of the injuries that occur after a car accident, such as muscle strains and tears, are internal. In the initial aftermath of the accident, adrenalin and shock do a very efficient job of masking the effects of such injuries. This means that it can take hours or even days for them to start to show symptoms. It is for this reason that experts recommend that you get assessed by a chiropractor within 24 hours of your appointment.

 

How Can a Chiropractor Help With Auto Injuries?

A chiropractor is a trained, medical professional who uses their hands to treat various issues and conditions involving the musculoskeletal system – the muscles, tendons, ligaments, and bones inside the body, as well as the nervous system, which is intrinsically linked to health and wellbeing of the spine. Since car accidents nearly always place the musculoskeletal system under immense strain, chiropractors are the best professionals to help patients overcome injuries affecting this area of the body. 

Chiropractors use a number of different techniques to realign the spine including manual manipulations, trigger point therapy, and massage. Realigning the spine provides a number of proven benefits, including:

• Increased circulation which reduces inflammation

• Natural pain relief without medications 

• Improved mobility

• An accelerated rate of healing

• Stronger immune function

• Overall wellness

Chiropractic treatment is usually carried out over a series of sessions. These are typically more frequent, to begin with, and then become a regular and consistent occurrence until the patient is healed (although there are additional benefits to continuing with chiropractic treatment after this time).

 

Whiplash

Whiplash is by far the most common type of injury sustained in car accidents. It is caused by the sudden movement of the head which whips back and forth or from side to side as a result of the impact sustained. This motion causes the soft tissues of the neck to extend beyond their usual range of motion, and this can lead to lots of little micro-tears forming in the tissues which then require time to heal. 

Symptoms of whiplash

The most common symptoms of whiplash include:

• Blurred vision

• Exhaustion 

• Headaches/migraines

• Neck pain and stiffness

• Ear pain

• Dizziness

• Ringing in the ears

• Pain that extends through the head and into the neck and shoulders

• Problems with memory and concentration 

• Insomnia 

If you experience any symptoms like these following a car accident, it is likely that you have whiplash and you should speak to your chiropractor as soon as possible. 

If you would like more information about chiropractic care for auto injuries, or to schedule an appointment for an assessment with our chiropractic team, please contact one of our offices in Summerville, SC or Charleston, SC.