The Importance of Chiropractic Care After a Car Accident

An accident can cause significant pain in the neck, back, and other parts of the body leading to discomfort and pain. The symptoms can appear immediately after the accident or take several days or weeks. If you have suffered injuries in a car accident, you have several options for treatment. Consider seeing a chiropractor if you want safe, non-invasive, and affordable treatment. Here is how chiropractic care can help after a car accident. 

What is Chiropractic Care? 

Chiropractic care is a therapy system focused on the human body, particularly on the spinal cord. It works by manipulating the body’s musculoskeletal system to relieve pain and improve the body’s function. It does not require any medication or surgery. Chiropractic care can help relieve pain associated with your bones, joints, cartilage, muscles, and connective tissue. It can also relieve tension headaches and helps reduce stress and anxiety. 

Injuries That Can Be Treated with Chiropractic Care 

Whiplash

Whiplash is one of the most common car accident injuries. It happens when your neck is forced to move forward and backward rapidly due to the impact of a collision. It can cause stiffness and pain in the neck and shoulders and prevents you from freely moving your head. Whiplash can last for a couple of days to several months, depending on the impact of the crash. Seeking chiropractic care can help you heal quicker.  

Herniated Discs

Intervertebral discs are sensitive and can be affected by the impact of a car accident. These discs are soft cushions between the vertebrae that absorb impact and enable you to bend or move your back. A car accident can cause these discs to get pushed out of their original position, resulting in excessive pain and limited mobility. The intervertebral discs can also rupture and cause further complications. A herniated disc takes several weeks to heal. 

Muscle, Nerve, or Ligament Pain 

Ligaments, nerves, or muscles in the back or neck can sustain damage in a car accident. You can treat this kind of pain through chiropractic therapy. 

Facet Joints

A vehicle collision can affect the facet joints, which are responsible for preventing any over-extension or twisting of the spinal cord. Chiropractors specialize in the realignment of joints. 

Knee Pain

Another common injury that can be treated by chiropractic care is knee pain. Knees are more prone to injury in a collision, especially when you are in the passenger or back seat. This sudden impact on the knee can cause the ligaments to bruise or tear, making it difficult for the individual to walk or run.    

Chiropractic Care for Neck and Back Injuries

It is common for auto accident victims to suffer misalignment in the neck and back. Any damage to the neck or back can lead to inflammation and obstruct proper blood flow. Chiropractic care helps fix these misalignments and improve blood flow in damaged areas.

Sometimes injuries related to the neck or back might not show up in imaging tests, such as X-rays. The best way to heal them is to get treatment as early as possible. Chiropractic care can be beneficial after a car accident because a trained professional can identify injuries and provide treatment to help you recover. Physical therapy can help repair any micro-tears in the muscles and improve mobility. 

The Benefits of Chiropractic Care After a Car Accident 

Here are the benefits of seeing a chiropractor after a car accident:

• Restoring Range of Motion: One of the reasons to seek chiropractic care after you have been in an accident is even though medication can be quick to relieve pain, it might not be the solution for restoring the body’s full range of motion. Lack of movement can slow your recovery because crucial nutrients cannot properly flow through the blood. Chiropractic care can help restore movement and improve blood flow, allowing you to heal faster. 
• Minimizing Pain: Chiropractic adjustments can minimize the pain from your injuries. This therapy lets your body release pain-relieving hormones such as oxytocin, cortisol, and neurotensin. It can also relieve a pinched nerve that could be causing pain. 
• Non-Invasive Treatment: Chiropractic care is non-invasive and has less recovery time than most surgeries. If you are considering having surgery, consult a personal injury chiropractor to determine if chiropractic care could solve your health issues without an invasive procedure that can be risky and might require prolonged rest post-operation. 

Reducing Inflammation: A physical injury from a car accident can cause inflammation. Inflammation is harmful to your tissues and leads to discomfort. Chiropractic adjustments after the accident can help your body slow its inflammatory response and reduce pain.