Benefits of Chiropractic Care for Auto Injuries

Auto accidents nearly always result in some degree of injury, even if you don’t realize it right away. While some types of injury are obvious and will cause you to seek immediate medical assistance, those that occur internally, and particularly those affecting the musculoskeletal system may not manifest right away. This is one of the reasons why people who have been involved in an auto accident are recommended to seek an appointment with a chiropractor within 48 hours. The other is that chiropractors are extensively-trained practitioners that specialize in the diagnosis, treatment and long-term management of injuries and conditions affecting the musculoskeletal system – the network of bones, muscles and connective tissues running throughout our body.
 

Common musculoskeletal injuries sustained in car accidents

Car accidents nearly always involves placing excessive amounts of force or pressure on the body, and it is this that is primarily responsible for causing us to experience injuries to our musculoskeletal system. Some of the most common musculoskeletal injuries that can be sustained as a result of being involved in a car accident include the following:
 

Soft tissue injuries.

Many people think that the musculoskeletal system only refers to the bones of our skeleton. However, muscles, ligaments, tendons, and other soft, connective tissues are also elements of this important body system. Soft tissue injuries are extremely common, with over-extension leading to micro-injuries and even full tears that are painful and can take weeks or months to heal.
 

Whiplash.

Whiplash is the single most common musculoskeletal injury sustained in car accidents and is the result of extreme force causing the head to rapidly whip back and forth, over-extending the tissues, and damaging them.
 

Neck and back injuries.

Examples include herniated intervertebral discs, bulging discs, sprains, and strains.

Spinal cord injuries.

Spinal cord injuries are usually some of the most serious types of injury that occur in a car accident and can potentially have temporary or permanent life-altering consequences.
 

What is involved in chiropractic care?

Chiropractic care refers to several non-invasive, hands-on techniques that are used to diagnose and treat problems affecting the musculoskeletal system. Exactly which techniques will be used will depend on the type of issue you are experiencing and how severe it is. How your body responds will also affect which chiropractic techniques will be used on you. Some of the most common include chiropractic/spinal adjustments, deep tissue massage, trigger point therapy and massage therapy.

Chiropractic care usually takes place of a series of appointments which are collated into a personalized treatment program. Initially your appointments may be closer together and this timetable will normally settle down into routine but less regular sessions that help you to maintain the benefits that you experience.  
 

Benefits of chiropractic care for auto injuries

The goal of chiropractic care is to realign the body and spine so that it can heal itself, preventing you from suffering from pain, mobility problems and other negative effects unnecessarily. Here are some of the best-known benefits of choosing chiropractic care for auto injuries.
 

Pain relief

Many people want to avoid taking pain relief medications unless necessary, particularly since many have addictive properties. Fortunately, chiropractic care is a very well-known method of alleviating pain without the need for medications. By healing the body at the site of the injury, chiropractic care doesn’t only mask the problem by eliminating the pain, it also helps to deal with the root cause of your discomfort.
 

Reduction in inflammation

Inflammation is our body’s natural response to being injured and is something that it does to help protect areas of our body that are most vulnerable. Inflammation can be painful and make it hard to move around. Chiropractic adjustments relieve pressure on the nervous system and trigger the body to release natural anti-inflammatory substances, reducing inflammation so that we experience less pain and can move more easily.
 

Restoring mobility

Inflammation and discomfort can make it hard for you to move around as you do normally. Even simple activities such as going up and down stairs or turning your head can be made difficult if not impossible. Chiropractic adjustments can stabilize your spine and improve your mobility so that you can get back to enjoying life.

If you would like more information about the benefits of chiropractic care for auto injuries, don’t hesitate to call our team at ReAlignMed at 773-665-4400.