Auto Accident Injuries
Benefits of Chiropractic Care After an Auto Accident:
Chiropractic Health Center of Ogden specializes in holistic chiropractic care after an accident by addressing the most vulnerable areas - the neck and spine. Seeking medical care after an auto accident is a normal procedure and a necessary practice. However, just as necessary may be the need to seek chiropractic treatment after an accident. Whether a mild fender bender or something more serious, a licensed chiropractor can assist an accident victim in returning to full health.
Chiropractic care focuses on restoring or maintaining health through correct alignment of the spine. When the neck and spine are in their proper and optimal position the nervous system and other integrated systems of the body can function properly as well. However, in a rear-end collision this alignment can be thrown off, usually resulting in the most common injury sustained in an accident - whiplash.
The sudden jarring of an accident causes the head to jerk forward then back (or side to side). This motion may stretch muscles and cause misalignment of the vertebrae. Even a mild accident can cause whiplash, which may fracture bone and strain or even tear muscles and tendons. Unfortunately, an accident victim may not experience the symptoms associated with whiplash for days or even weeks later.
What is the symptoms of whiplash?
- Pain in the neck, shoulders, arms, and/or back
- Neck stiffness or limited range of motion
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Blurred or impaired vision
- Nausea
The best course of action after an accident is to schedule a visit with a chiropractor before serious symptoms begin to manifest. The longer an accident victim waits to be treated, the more likelihood there may be for long term complications.
How long does it take to recover from whiplash?
Each individual is unique and so are their injuries, recovery time, and form of treatment. Factors that may affect the care and recovery time an individual requires include:
- The extent of the injury
- What was damaged and how severely?
- The previous health habits of the individual
- smoking, drug use, low muscle mass, or other factors that weaken bone or muscle strength.
- The age of the individual
- It becomes more difficult to heal with age
These are just a few of the many factors that could play a role in the duration and ability to reach a full recovery. There may be more severe instances where chiropractic treatment can only improve or maintain a partial recovery. It is always best to speak with the chiropractor about concerns, options, and possible recovery time.
Don’t Wait to Get Chiropractic Care
Being treated by a licensed and experienced chiropractor, like Dr. Ryan Bosley or Dr. Lew Wheelwright, immediately following an accident can prevent further damage and pain.
Unlike getting a one-time shot to numb pain, an accident victim shouldn’t expect to only see their chiropractor one time to receive the full benefits. Chiropractics is much more closely related to physical therapy. As such, aspects of physical therapy are also used to help the patient stretch and loosen tight tendons and muscles, allowing the chiropractor to align the neck, spine, or other areas of concern. And just like physical therapy a one time visit won’t be enough.
If left untreated, a stiff neck from whiplash over time may develop into debilitating acute neck pain, pinched nerves, chronic headaches, numbness, arthritis, bone spurs, bone fusion, and/or permanent loss of range of motion. This type of constant pain and limited mobility can cause an otherwise healthy individual to experience mild to severe disability for weeks, months or even years after an incident.
Thankfully, mild whiplash and it’s side effects can most often be alleviated through non-invasive chiropractic procedures over a period of several weeks. A chiropractor can treat the mechanical issues associated with an accident without the need for surgery, injections, or prescription pain medication. This alternative form of treatment allows the patient to heal properly and in most cases return to full health and mobility.
However, this can only be achieved if proper chiropractic care is sought immediately following an accident. The longer the injury is allowed to go untreated the more likely it will be that further damage may be done due to inflammation and improperly healed injuries.
There isn’t just a “one size fits all” procedure for auto accident victims. Consulting the knowledgeable chiropractors from Chiropractic Health Center of Ogden to customize a treatment plan as soon as possible can help prevent, repair, and restore health.