Auto accidents are frightening circumstances that can cause a variety of physical and mental health issues. Fortunately, proper diagnosis and treatment of injuries and/or aggravated conditions after being in a car crash can help patients achieve overall well-being. The purpose of the following article is to discuss how chiropractic care can help diagnose and treat auto accident injuries.
What are Whiplash-Associated Disorders?
Whiplash is a well-known health issue that affects approximately 3 million Americans every year. Although whiplash-associated disorders can commonly occur following a car crash, whiplash can also be caused by slip-and-fall accidents, sports injuries, and/or a variety of other health issues. Whiplash is a sprain or strain caused by hyperextension and hyperflexion of the soft tissues in the neck.
The cervical spine, or neck, is a complex, flexible structure that consists of the vertebrae, or spinal bones, intervertebral disks, which act as shock absorbers, muscles, tendons, ligaments, and nerves, among other soft tissues. The neck can support the weight of the head and move in various directions, including rotating and nodding. But, the flexibility of the cervical spine can make it vulnerable to harm.
During a car crash, the sheer force from the impact can cause the head to suddenly “jerk” back-and-forth in any direction, damaging the complex structures of the neck. Symptoms associated with whiplash, can include pain, discomfort, tingling sensations, tenderness, stiffness, and/or numbness, among other symptoms. It’s essential to visit a doctor immediately to receive proper diagnosis and treatment.
Symptoms associated with whiplash-associated disorders may often take several days, weeks, and even months to manifest after the automobile accident. Other symptoms associated with whiplash can also include, headaches, migraines, blurred vision, shoulder and arm pain, decreased range-of-motion, and dizziness. Whiplash can also cause a variety of other spinal health issues, such as herniated disks.
Being involved in an auto accident can cause a variety of health issues. Proper diagnosis and treatment after being in a car crash can help patients achieve overall health and wellness. Chiropractic care utilizes spinal adjustments and manual manipulations to carefully correct various spinal misalignments, or subluxations, caused by an auto accident. It’s essential to visit a doctor immediately after a car crash. – Dr. Rick Cazares, DC, Insight
Treatment for Auto Accident Injuries and Whiplash
Chiropractic care is an alternative treatment option that focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of a variety of injuries and/or aggravated conditions associated with the musculoskeletal and nervous system, including whiplash and auto accident injuries. A chiropractor, or doctor of chiropractic, may need x-rays, MRI, or CT scans to determine the presence of auto accident injuries.
Auto accidents can ultimately cause a variety of other health issues, if left untreated. As a matter of fact, because the symptoms of whiplash can take several days, weeks, and even months to manifest, many auto accident injuries can often go undiagnosed and cause additional serious health issues. That’s why its essential to visit a chiropractor for evaluation if you’ve been in a car crash.
Once a doctor of chiropractic, or chiropractor, has performed a diagnosis, they may utilize a variety of treatment methods and techniques to help treat the auto accident injury. Chiropractic care uses spinal adjustments and manual manipulations to carefully correct subluxations, or spinal misalignments, anywhere along the length of the spine that may be causing painful symptoms.
Chiropractic care can help naturally restore the original integrity of the spine following an injury and/or aggravated condition, including automobile accident injuries. Besides utilizing spinal adjustments and manual manipulations, a chiropractor, or doctor of chiropractic, may also recommend diet and lifestyle modifications, such as exercise, to help speed up the recovery process of auto accident injuries.
Auto accidents are frightening circumstances that can cause a variety of physical and mental health issues. Fortunately, proper diagnosis and treatment of injuries and/or aggravated conditions after being in a car crash can help patients achieve overall well-being. In the article above, we discussed how chiropractic care can help diagnose and treat auto accident injuries, including whiplash.
The scope of our articles, topics, and discussions are limited to chiropractic care and a variety of injuries and underlying conditions associated with the musculoskeletal and nervous system, including sciatica or sciatic nerve pain. We have made a reasonable attempt to identify relevant information and research studies to support our posts. To further discuss the subject matter in the article above, please feel free to contact us and/or call our office at (915) 217-0193 .
Curated by Dr. Rick Cazares
References
- 100% Family, “How Chiropractic Care Can Help After an Auto Accident.” 100% Chiropractic, 100% Chiropractic, 11 August 2015, https://100percentchiropractic.com/how-chiropractic-care-can-help-after-an-auto-accident/.
- Stewart G. Eidelson, MD, “Whiplash Center.” Spine Universe, Spine Universe, 24 December 2019, https://www.spineuniverse.com/conditions/whiplash.
