What to do after a car accident
Motor Vehicle Accidents and Chiropractic Care
Have you or someone you know ever been in a car accident? One of the most common injuries from vehicular crashes is whiplash. Whiplash results in the neck moving very rapidly through an excessive range of motion, contributing to hyperflexion-hyperextension injuries that can affect soft tissues in the neck, as well as joint capsules and intervertebral discs. In more simpler terms whiplash occurs when a sudden, jarring movement of the head is sustained backward, forward or even to the side.Whether the impact occurs from the front or the rear, your neck is usually the most vulnerable area of your body in any motor vehicle accident. Car collisions involve rapid changes in acceleration and deceleration. Your body is held relatively still by a seat belt, whereas your head and neck are free to move. Whiplash can lead to neck pain and inflammation, arm pain, numbness or tingling, headaches, nausea, dizziness, lack of concentration or clarity of thought, depression, anxiety, TMJ or jaw pain, mid or lower back pain even spinal disc symptoms.
It is of the utmost importance that chiropractic care is sought as soon as possible after a motor vehicle accident since allowing the effects of whiplash to go untreated may lead to long-term pain. The seriousness of your injuries may not always be known or felt immediately following the accident. Sometimes it can take days, weeks or even months for major symptoms to show up, which is why chiropractic care is essential to maintaining the health of a spine that has been through a trauma. Any body part that is shaken and thrown forward unexpectedly and beyond its normal limits can sustain stretched ligaments and even tears. Those supporting the head and neck are especially vulnerable to this kind of tearing during a collision. Since chiropractors specialize in the care of bones, muscles, nerves and connective tissue, they are crucial to visit after an accident. All those major parts of the body are important to keep in optimal health and correct alignment so they can function properly and all body systems can operate properly. Early treatment means higher probability for full healing and recovery. Even a car crash that is seemingly minor with limited damage to the car itself can cause serious injury to the driver and passengers. Chiropractic treatments are the right step toward restoring the body. They relieve pain, make necessary adjustments to spine alignment. Beyond treatment, nutritional advice, as well as exercises to continue the healing process on your own are just a few of the ways chiropractor's go above and beyond for their patients.
Sources:
https://www.lifetimefitness.com/en/content/details/articles/benefits_of_chiropractic_care_after_a_car_crash.html
http://www.upchiro.com/chiropractic-care-after-car-accident.html
