How Chiropractic Helps Patients After an Auto Accident

Neck pain after car accident

How Chiropractic Treatment Helps You Recover from an Auto Accident

Broken bones, cuts, and bruises aren't the only injuries you may experience after a motor vehicle accident. Car accidents can also strain muscles, ligaments, tendons, and joints, causing pain, stiffness, and loss of flexibility. Fortunately, your chiropractor offers several treatments that can ease pain and other symptoms.

Chiropractic Offers a Non-Invasive Way to Treat Whiplash

Whiplash, an injury that happens when your neck moves and back forth suddenly, is one of the most common auto accident injuries. The injury damages or strains muscles, ligaments, and discs in your neck and may move vertebrae out of alignment. The injury affects approximately two-thirds of people who have been in motor vehicle accidents, according to the American Chiropractic Association.

Whiplash can occur at both low and high speeds and can be just as painful no matter how fast the car was traveling. Neck pain, stiffness, headaches, and spasms can happen immediately or might start several days after the accident.

Chiropractic treatment decreases inflammation, realigns the vertebrae in your neck, improves range of motion and blood flow, and decreases pain and spasms. Your chiropractic treatment plan may include several of these therapies:

  • Spinal manipulation
  • Soft tissue mobilization
  • Flexion-distraction
  • Ultrasound
  • Trigger point therapy
  • Muscle stimulation
  • Interferential electrical stimulation

Tired of Muscle Spasms? A Visit to the Chiropractor Can Help

Even if your body is restrained by a seatbelt during a crash, you may still develop muscle aches and spasms in your back, shoulders, and neck. Massage and soft tissue manipulation, a technique that gently stretches tissues, can reduce pain and spasms. These therapies also relieve stiffness and improve range of motion. Other helpful treatments include hot and cold therapies, ultrasound, and electrical stimulation.

Chiropractic Offers Drug-Free Pain Relief

Over-the-counter and prescription medication can be very helpful when pain interferes with your life. Unfortunately, the effects of the drugs wear off in a few hours, causing your symptoms to return. If you don't treat the source of your pain, you may become reliant on or addicted to your pain medications.

During your first visit to the chiropractic office, your doctor will perform a thorough examination, ask a few questions about the accident and your symptoms, and recommend X-rays or other tests that will provide information about the extent of your injuries. This information will help your practitioner determine why you have pain and create a treatment plan that will pinpoint the source of your pain.

You'll Be Less Likely to Develop Scar Tissue with Chiropractic Treatment

Your body produces scar tissue to repair damage caused by your auto accident. Unfortunately, scar tissue can also limit the movement of a joint or a muscle, making it difficult to reach for a glass on a high shelf or bend to pick up a stray sock. Massage, soft tissue mobilization and manipulation, and other treatments break apart pockets of scar tissue and relieve pain and stiffness.

Treatments Help You Avoid Chronic Pain and Inflammation

Auto accident injuries can increase your risk of arthritis and other chronic conditions without prompt treatment. Unfortunately, if you wait until the pain becomes a constant complaint, it may be too late to eliminate it.

Inflammation isn't limited to your sore neck or shoulder after a car accident but can affect your entire body. The longer inflammation remains, the longer you'll experience aches and pains. Chiropractic treatment can jumpstart your body's natural anti-inflammation response, relieving pain and reducing your risk of developing chronic health conditions.

Are you struggling with pain, stiffness, or headaches after an auto accident? Chiropractic treatment offers a natural solution for your symptoms. Contact our office to schedule your appointment.

Sources:

Journal of Chiropractic Medicine: Chiropractic Management of a Patient With Chronic Pain in a Federally Qualified Health Center: A Case Report, 6/18

Spine Universe: Chiropractic Care for Whiplash

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  • "Dr. Dorais was recommended to me by a family friend and he has yet to disappoint! Not only are he and his staff courteous, but very professional in all that they do.

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    Thank you very much for the kind words! It has been a pleasure working with you."
    Joleen M
  • "I recently had an emergency trip to the ER with spasms so bad in my back that it brought tears to my eyes. I followed up with Dr. Dorais. He was able to adjust my back over a short period of time."
    Kim F
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    Response from the owner2 months ago
    Thank you, Lisa for the kind words. We do value the opinions of our patients😀"
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  • "I have always had a few back issues,and have always just dealt with the issues myself. I was nervous at first to go to a chiropractor, but Dr. Dorais and the team showed me there was nothing to be nervous about. They welcomed me like I had been going there for years, but it was my first visit. My back issues have been getting better and I couldn't be happier with Dorais Family Chiropractic. I can only thank them for the help they have given me!!

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    It has been our pleasure working with you Blake. Thank you for the kind words."
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  • "Doctor Dorais is just short of a miracle worker. I will not let anyone else but him adjust my neck and back, and I have been seeing chiropractors for 25 years. He is kind, caring, educated on all things spine, and truly cares about his patients, and most of all his adjustments HELP me immensely.

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    Thank you for the kind words Chantal. 😀"
    Chantal C
  • "I cannot say enough about the care I have received from Dr. Dorais since I began seeing him ten years ago. I would not have the nice, straight pain free spine I do if it weren’t for Dr. Dorais. The office is always so positive and welcoming. All around awesome!"
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