A car accident can be a very traumatic experience. The speed changes and forces caused by the impact can put a lot of strain on the muscles and joints of the body, especially the neck and spine. Sometimes, the injury may not even present itself immediately after the accident or may become worse over time. Visiting a chiropractor after any car accident may be a good idea.
Prevent Worsening Injuries
Even if there was no pain or discomfort immediately after an accident, there may have still been injuries. Often, individuals will wake the next day feeling sore or stiff. This is when they need chiropractic care the most.
For injuries such as whiplash, the pain and stiffness may start out as mild. However, without proper treatment, the symptoms can become worse and may even cause loss of range of motion in the neck. Early treatment can minimize or even relieve the symptoms and allow for proper healing.
Decrease or Eliminate Pain Medication
Many of the injuries from an auto accident are soft tissue injuries of the muscles and joints. These can be hard to detect and even harder to treat in a traditional medical setting. In many cases, doctors will prescribe pain medications to alleviate the pain. Unfortunately, pain medications come with many difficult symptoms on their own and can even lead to addiction.
Recent research has shown that chiropractic treatment and manipulation have helped in reducing pain for many people. It has also been shown to lessen or even eliminate the need for pain medications. This is because the manipulations and treatments address the actual damage to the soft tissue and provide methods to restore proper movement and increase healing.
Reduce Inflammation
Inflammation is the body’s natural mechanism for protection in cases of injury. Unfortunately, inflammation can be painful and may even limit a person’s range of motion. Inflammation can continue as long as an injury is present and, in some cases, may worsen the injury.
Often the inflammation is due to tiny tears in the muscles and ligaments. If left untreated, these tears can turn into scar tissue and continue to cause pain and inflammation. Chiropractic care utilizes a combination of methods for reducing inflammation and healing these tears. Proper exercises, a nutritious diet, and manipulation of the injured area help to aid in the healing process.
Increase Range of Motion
A car accident can also reduce a person’s range of motion. Damages to the muscles and tendons may cause discomfort when a person moves in specific ways. This may lead to avoiding those motions, which can lead to stiffness and reduce the range of motion even further.
In addition, damages to the ligaments and other connective tissue may cause the joints of the spine to become misaligned. This misalignment can further reduce the ability to move properly. Chiropractic adjustments paired with proper nutrition and exercise can help to realign and heal these areas. This can increase the person’s range of motion and may even restore their movement to pre-accident conditions.
There is no need to continue to suffer from the effects of a car accident. Whether the pain began immediately or days to weeks after the accident, seeking chiropractic care may be the best option for relieving those symptoms and getting on a path to proper healing.
