Why It’s Recommended to See a Chiropractor Following a Car Accident
The average American spends more than 1,000 hours in the car every year. That's a lot of time spent on the road and unfortunately, accidents are an all too regular occurrence. Even small fender benders can cause aches and pains that last for weeks.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over 6 million car accidents occur across the United States every year, resulting in some 3 million injuries. These can range from minor injuries that require only rest and recovery to more major injuries that can take months or years to recover from.
Automobile accidents often cause bodily harm because of the enormous forces at play. Various parts of your body are subject to these forces, particularly your back and neck, which are sometimes thrown out of alignment and injured. If you have been in an accident, you should consider seeing a car accident chiropractor as soon as possible to prevent long-term damage.
Why Should I See a Chiropractor After a Car Accident?
The answer is fairly simple: because your body needs it. Even if you feel like nothing is wrong with you, it’s possible that something subtle has changed in your skeletal structure or nervous system. If left uncorrected, even seemingly minor structural changes can result in chronic pain down the road. Or worse, cumulative damage could develop into serious spinal deterioration later on in life. The human body is a complex machine that relies on proper alignment for everything from muscle function to organ health to nerve communication between the brain and the rest of the body.
How a Chiropractor Can Help Car Accident Injuries
It's recommended seeing a chiropractor after a car accident because they specialize in treating soft tissue injuries, such as whiplash. Soft tissue injuries can be tricky because they may not show up for days or even weeks after an accident. But when they do, they can cause major problems.
Soft tissue injuries can have a huge impact on your life. They can make it impossible to work out at the gym or even just sit at a desk all day. That's why it's important to see a chiropractor after you've been in an auto accident. Even if you don't think you were injured, it's better to be safe than sorry!
Here are some ways visiting a chiropractor can help your recovery process:
1. Reduce Pain
One of the main reasons people visit a chiropractor is to find relief from pain. Whether you suffered a minor injury or a major one, your chiropractor will treat your condition with non-invasive methods to reduce pain and improve mobility. Chiropractors are experts in treating soft tissue injuries, and they can also address problems with your spine and other joints. Chiropractic adjustments are designed to relieve pressure on your nerves, which can reduce inflammation and speed up the healing process so your body can return to normal function faster. If you've been in an accident and have any neck or back pain, stiffness or numbness, you should see a chiropractor right away.
2. Chiropractors Have Advanced Training in Diagnosing Injuries
A chiropractor is trained to locate and treat the root of your pain. They are not only able to provide relief for your symptoms, but they will also work to address the cause of your pain. A chiropractor has the skills and training needed to diagnose and treat a wide range of injuries that stem from an auto accident.
- Chiropractors have advanced training in diagnosing injuries.
Chiropractors are trained to detect subluxations, or misalignments in your spine and musculoskeletal system, which can lead to pain and other health problems. They examine your body for these issues using X-rays and other diagnostic tests.
- Chiropractors use non-invasive techniques to treat pain and injuries.
Many chiropractic care techniques do not involve prescription medication. Instead, chiropractors may perform adjustments, massage therapy, stretching and other treatments that do not require drugs or surgery.
3. Shorten Recovery Time
Chiropractic treatment can expedite the recovery process following an auto accident. Many patients experience pain relief after just a few sessions with a chiropractor. After your initial treatment, your chiropractor may recommend you continue treatment for a short period of time to ensure the maximum benefit from your recovery. Chiropractors use a variety of methods to help patients recover faster after sustaining an injury in a car accident. They may use spinal adjustments, massage therapy, ultrasound technology, electrical stimulation therapy, or other techniques to help your body heal as quickly as possible.
4. Prevent Long-Term Health Problems
Chiropractic can help prevent long-term health problems from developing by detecting and addressing subluxations that result in nerve interference. When you're involved in an auto accident, the force of impact can cause subluxations that are not immediately painful. By identifying these subluxations and treating them, you can prevent them from becoming more serious or causing permanent damage down the road.
5. Chiropractic Care Can Help You Avoid Surgery
It's no secret that surgery is a huge deal, both in terms of the immediate impact on your life and the long-term implications. Even relatively simple procedures can carry risks of infection, scarring, and other complications. Depending on the type of surgery you need and the severity of your condition, the recovery time can range from a few weeks to months or even years. Chiropractic care is a safe, effective, and natural approach to managing pain and other health-related issues.
Why Its Recommended to See a Chiropractor Following a Car Accident
If you have been involved in a car accident, it is crucial that you see a chiropractor as soon as possible. They will be able to check your body and provide treatment for any injuries or other issues that you are experiencing as a result of the incident. To learn more about what you can expect from a visit with a chiropractor after an auto accident, contact Best Grand Rapids Chiropractor - your car accident chiropractor!
Story From Dr. Matthew Phinney
Dr. Phinney happened on a career in Chiropractic, while on a rugby tour to New Zealand, he injured two discs in his neck during a match. The damage was so severe he was ruled out of any competition by team Doctors, and told that his career as a rugby player was essentially over. The limited ability of conventional medicine to understand and treat his injury left a strong impression on him.A chiropractor was able to help him later to restore function in his body, and get him back into competition. It was then Dr. Phinney decided to pursue a career in healthcare.