Car Accidents and Chiropractic Care

Car accidents are a common cause of injury in the United States. In fact, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were over 6 million car crashes in 2018 alone. These injuries can range from minor bumps and bruises to more serious and long-lasting injuries, including whiplash. In many cases, chiropractic care can help with these injuries, but it’s important to understand what kinds of injuries happen after a car accident, as well as how a chiropractic can help with them.

What Kinds of Injuries Happen After a Car Accident?

The most common type of injury that occurs after a car accident is whiplash. Whiplash is an injury caused by the jerking motion of the head when the body is hit from behind or from the side in a car accident. This jerking motion causes tears in the ligaments, muscles, and tendons around the neck and upper back area. Other types of injuries that can occur after a car crash include back sprains or strains, herniated discs, shoulder or arm pain, headaches, jaw pain, vertigo or dizziness, vision problems, and nerve damage.

It’s very common for people to experience injuries from a car accident without realizing that they’ve been hurt. While some injuries are obvious, and people usually receive medical care for them immediately following the accident, many are insidious. For example, at Redefine Your Spine in Tampa, FL, we’ve had patients come in with injuries from car accidents that were over five years ago. Here’s how it works:

When people are involved in a car accident that they walk away from without lacerations or visible, severe injury, they often assume they’ve gotten away “without a scratch.” While that’s true – they may not have a scratch – it’s very common for individuals to actually have a misalignment in their spine. This is common in the neck area (cervical spine) as a result of whiplash, or throughout the rest of the spine from the impact. While they may not initially feel pain, it’s common for chronic issues to begin to arise months after the accident. This may include sciatica, lower or upper back pain, neck pain, poor posture, and sharp pain.

Can A Chiropractor Help With Whiplash?

A chiropractor can absolutely help with whiplash! Chiropractic care focuses on healing the body naturally without drugs or surgery and helps realign misaligned vertebrae. At Redefine Your Spine, Dr. Jacob Goldberg will assess your condition to determine which type of treatment would be best for you based on your individual needs. Depending on your specific case and symptoms, he may recommend spinal adjustments (manipulative therapy) along with other treatments such as heat/cold therapy, spinal traction, and lifestyle changes like stretching exercises or posture correction techniques. Depending on his recommendation, you may also need physical therapy if there was any damage done to your muscles during your car accident.

How Can A Chiropractor Help With Car Accident Injuries?

Chiropractors are trained in diagnosing and treating neuromuscular disorders caused by trauma from an auto accident, such as whiplash or other spine-related issues like herniated discs or pinched nerves. Chiropractors like Dr. Jacob Goldberg use manual manipulation techniques to realign vertebrae that have been displaced due to an impact from an auto accident which helps reduce pain and inflammation while improving mobility at the same time. Chiropractors also offer advice on lifestyle modifications such as nutrition advice for inflammation reduction or exercise recommendations for improved strength and flexibility which can further aid in recovery from an auto accident injury.

Chiropractic Care After Car Accident in Carrollwood, FL

If you’ve been injured in a car accident, then it’s important to seek medical and chiropractic attention immediately. A medical professional will rule out internal injuries like concussions and internal bleeding (if the accident is severe), and a chiropractor will help your body to begin its recovery process and ensure the best possible healing outcome. Visiting us at Redefine Your Spine in Carrollwood, FL after being involved in an automobile collision gives you access to specialized techniques that could help alleviate your pain while promoting better healing so you can get back on track faster than ever before! If you’re unsure whether chiropractic care is right for you, then schedule an appointment with us to discuss your options. We believe your care should be completely personalized to your needs, whatever those may be. Contact us today to get the conversation started!