Written by Dr. Meri Rosco
Whether the car accident is minor or severe, getting assessed by a chiropractic physician is highly recommended. Most people involved in a car accident will experience neck or back pain in the future that is related to the trauma of the accident. Chronic conditions can develop even with seemingly minor accidents. Those who receive chiropractic care are less likely to experience long-term issues.
It is not unusual for pain to present itself weeks or even months after the accident. The body can be incredibly good at coping with changes and compensating for weakness or injury. Eventually, the muscles, tendons, ligaments, and skeletal system will feel and show the wear and tear of the compensation.
Here are some reasons why seeing a chiropractor after an accident is recommended:
Chiropractic is nonsurgical and drug free
Chiropractic care focuses on restoring optimal nerve function and the biomechanics of the body. To alleviate pain, the physician must get to the root cause of the problem.
When one is prescribed pain medications, the pain is masked, making the ability to determine the root cause difficult. This can delay or prevent accurate diagnosis and effective treatment. This delay may lead to chronic conditions.
Chiropractic physicians are highly skilled in diagnostics. Once the root cause is determined, the chiropractic physician will develop and administer a treatment plan that helps the body heal naturally. This is achieved without invasive procedures and medications that can have harmful side effects.
Chiropractic reduces inflammation
Car accidents jerk the body so quickly that they cause microscopic tears in the muscles and ligaments. These micro-tears cannot be detected on X-rays, but they can certainly cause pain and / or stiffness.
A chiropractor can manipulate the spine and help support the body in releasing IL-6, an important anti-inflammatory substance that helps with acute injuries.
In addition to chiropractic manipulation, therapies such as cold laser and intersegmental traction can aid in the repair of ligament and muscle damage.
Inflammation can slow the healing process as it reduces the amount of blood and nutrients to the injured areas. Therefore, reducing inflammation is vital to recovery. Chiropractic manipulation is a great way to help reduce inflammation and restore motion within the damaged joints.
Even if one does not experience symptoms immediately after a car accident, getting evaluated by a chiropractic physician can reduce the chances of undetected damage causing chronic issues.