Sadly, car accidents happen daily. Millions of Americans sustain injuries every year due to car accidents. Some experts estimate that the average individual will get into an auto accident at least once every 18 years. That equates to four car accidents throughout a person’s lifetime.
The consequences of a car accident depend on several factors, such as the initial point of contact, speed, and seat belts or lack thereof. Even a low-speed fender bender could cause damage to your neck and spine. That is why it is crucial to visit a chiropractor after an auto accident.
Some of the potential benefits of chiropractic care after a car accident include:
Diagnosis And Treatment Of Hidden Injuries
Some car accident-related injuries are apparent, but others can develop gradually and affect your quality of life. You do not have to live with pain or discomfort from injuries sustained in a car accident.
Experienced chiropractors are familiar with the common injuries people sustain in auto accidents. During your initial consultation, your chiropractor will give you a thorough examination to determine and diagnose your injury and create the appropriate treatment plan.
Reduced Inflammation
Inflammation is a typical result of physical injury. It is the body’s natural attempt to heal itself. Inflammation is helpful in small amounts, but too much of it can cause pain, discomfort, and damage to other tissues.
Your chiropractor will perform spinal manipulation to realign your spine. It will cause your body to reduce the production of inflammatory cytokines, reducing pain and lowering the inflammatory response.
Whiplash Treatment
Whiplash is one of the most common injuries people sustain following an auto accident. Most people associate this complicated condition with shoulder and neck pain. While it can cause such pain, it can also lead to other complications. These include dizziness, headaches, and even vision and hearing problems.
Clinical studies show that chiropractic therapy for whiplash is very effective at providing long-term improvements in symptoms. Your chiropractor will create a customized treatment plan that will likely involve gentle, targeted manipulation. The goal is to help you regain comfort and motion in the affected areas of your body.
Drug-Free And Non-Invasive Treatment
Today, prescription medication addiction is a massive problem. Thus, visit a chiropractor instead of taking pain meds to address your accident-related pain. The beauty of chiropractic therapy for pain is that it targets the cause without using drugs. This allows your body to heal naturally.
Also, many injuries can benefit from non-invasive chiropractic care when treated early. Otherwise, surgery, which comes with many risks, might be your only option. The sooner you visit a chiropractor after an auto accident, the more likely it is to find relief from chiropractic care. This will save you the cost and risk of surgical intervention.
Restored Range Of Motion
You may lose some range of movement in your neck or back when a car accident jostles the joints in your spine out of alignment. Scar tissue and inflammation can further reduce your range of motion. Fortunately, your chiropractor can help reduce scar tissue and inflammation and mobilize your spine to improve your range of motion.
Visiting a chiropractor is a wise decision whether you had a minor fender bender or a major car accident. You do not want to live with the lingering consequences of the accident. You will be on your way to lasting recovery in no time with chiropractic therapy.
For more on chiropractic care, visit Healing Hands Center for Integrative Medicine at our Montclair, New Jersey office. Call (973) 783-1800 to schedule an appointment today.