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Writer's pictureDr. Fouad Raad, DC

5 Ways Chiropractic Treatments Help After an Auto Injury

Over the last few years, the state of Florida has recorded the highest number of car accidents in the country. In fact in 2017, Florida, ranking first in number of accidents, recorded almost as many as the the second, third and fourth states combined! Chances are, if you live here, you have been involved in accidents yourself, or know others who have.


Fortunately, the majority of auto injuries do not end in life threatening conditions or fatality. However, studies show that even a minor car accident can result in injuries to your neck and back. Here are some of the ways chiropractic treatment can help you get back to your regular daily routine pain-free.

 

1. Improving Your Range of Motion and Decreasing Pain


After an auto accident, one of the most common symptoms is having neck and back stiffness. Chiropractic manipulation in combination with some therapeutic massages can alleviate most of the tightness in the spine by relaxing the muscles and improving flexibility.



Chiropractic adjustments also ensure proper mobility in every segment of the spine, to preserve the full range of motion and decrease the possibility of traumatic degeneration between the joints.





2. Improving Local Blood Flow


Car accidents often result in whiplash injuries in the cervical region of the spine (neck). Those injuries come as a result of fast and sudden whipping of the head back and forth and abrupt stopping with the seatbelt and headrest. This results in micro-tears in the ligaments, tendons and other connective tissue that causes pain and takes time to heal.


Chiropractic treatment for these cases usually involves therapies such as ultrasound, electrical stimulation, diathermy and cold laser. This is targeted at reducing inflammation, and stimulating localized blood flow to the injured region allowing it to heal faster.


3. Reducing Headaches


Cervical adjustments have been shown to greatly reduce the severity and frequency of headaches following a car accident. These headaches usually result from a tightening of the neck muscles, especially ones at the base of the skull, called the suboccipital muscles. Manipulation of the first two vertebrae and passive stretching can lead to the relaxation of these muscles and the improvement of headache symptoms.


4. Decreasing Symptoms of a Disc Herniation or a Disc Bulge


One of the more serious injuries that can be sustained after a car accident is a disc bulge or herniation. Disc herniations occurs when there is an increased pressure on the disc causing the inner material of the disc (nucleus pulposus) to exit out and often pinch and irritate a nerve at that level. Disc herniations are considered permanent injuries and can be disabling if untreated.


Spinal decompression stretches the herniated disc with specific parameters. This creates a negative pressure inside the disc and, to a certain extent, allows the herniation to resorb.


5. Improving Strength and Stability


In most cases, your chiropractic treatment will incorporate a rehabilitation program to include home exercises and stretches. These work in later phases of your recovery to strengthen your neck and back in a safe manner, improving the stability around the injured area.


 

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