How a Chiropractor Can Help after a Car Accident

If you have lingering aches and pains after an auto accident, a chiropractor can help you get you back on your feet. Learn how a chiropractor can help after an auto accident and when to consider chiropractic care.

When to See a Chiropractor after an Auto Accident

If you are severely injured or bleeding after an auto accident, seek emergency care at the nearest hospital. If you “feel fine” after an auto accident, you may be tempted to skip a medical evaluation. This could be a mistake, as stiffness and pain you write off as normal could actually indicate conditions such as whiplash.

After an accident, it’s important that you seek evaluation from a medical professional, who can give you a clean bill of health or treat any injuries. Given that chiropractors work on the spine, which can result in misalignment from the impact, they are a natural fit for auto accident injuries such as whiplash.

Whiplash develops during the force of an auto accident, when the body is under a high amount of pressure. Symptoms of whiplash include:

• Blurry vision
• Headache
• Stiff muscles
• Back pain
• Neck pain
• Shoulder pain
• Reduced mobility

While you may think stiffness will go away if you rest and ice, whiplash cannot go away on its own. Pain will linger and intensify until you seek treatment.

How a Chiropractor Can Treat Auto Accident Injuries

Chiropractic adjustments bring the spine back into proper alignment to address whiplash symptoms. Treatment takes place over a number of sessions, but most people notice a reduction in symptoms as soon as they begin treatment.

In addition to its pain management benefits, chiropractic care offers holistic benefits. Adjustments soothe the nervous system, which stimulates the body’s natural healing capabilities. Many patients find that adjustments are relaxing-something that may reduce stress levels after an auto accident.

Chiropractic adjustments lower inflammation naturally, without requiring a pill. As pain and inflammation decrease, symptoms decrease, too. You may notice that you have more mobility and range of motion after adjustments.

When making spinal adjustments in the aftermath of an accident, your chiropractor may be able to prevent scar tissue from developing. While treatments are still effective if not immediately addressed, you may have lingering adhesions from scar tissue. A chiropractor can break up these adhesions using techniques such as myofascial release, which stretches the tissue so that  collagen fibers can realign in support of optimal movement.

If you experience any of these symptoms, seek an opinion from our chiropractors in Provo and Taylorsville, Utah. Since timely treatment matters when it comes to injury recovery, the sooner you address your symptoms, the sooner you can begin the journey to wellness.