Top 6 Goals of Car Accident Chiropractic
If you leave the scene of a car accident without having to undergo emergency care, you’re right to count yourself lucky. But this doesn’t mean you won’t need follow-up medical care in the aftermath of the crash. In fact, hidden injuries are particularly common in car accident victims, which is why some chiropractors specialize in this population. Car accident chiropractors focus on the damage that can be done during a crash and focus on understanding the body’s reaction to trauma of that sort. Even if you don’t believe you’ve been injured, a chiropractor will be able to assess you for risk with the goal of total health and recovery. Below are some of the outcomes they will strive for in your care.
1. Early Intervention
With any injury or illness, it is usually better to spot the problem as early as possible. This prevents symptoms from worsening and also gives you a better chance of making a full recovery, rather than giving the body time to worsen the problem. For this reason, car accident chiropractors will want to see you as soon as possible, even if you are not presenting any symptoms of an injury.
Many common car accident injuries sustained during a crash will not be apparent immediately. Symptoms of whiplash, concussions, and even some broken bones may not be noticed for hours, days, or even weeks in some cases. By the time symptoms have appeared, the injury has likely worsened or caused additional problems that will prolong recovery. Instead, car accident chiropractors will look for particular injuries immediately, identifying them and beginning treatment quickly.
2. Identify Life-Threatening Injuries
Many serious injuries would be identified by emergency responders after an accident, but something like a brain injury can be more difficult to notice. In some cases, you may walk away from an accident thinking you were unharmed, while something is happening inside your body that could be dangerous. While car accident chiropractors may not be able to treat internal bleeding or brain damage, they are trained to look for these problems on a first visit. They are usually able to rule these problems out to aid in diagnosis, but they can also catch them upfront and send you for the necessary emergency treatment.
3. Pain Reduction
The majority of car accident-related injuries are not life-threatening, but rather cause pain and difficulty moving as a result of damage to the spine. These problems can typically be reversed with consistent chiropractic care. As you undergo adjustments, your car accident chiropractor will be looking to aid your recovery with as little pain as possible. Over time, you will be able to move more easily and with less pain. Rather than relying on painkillers to hide your pain, a chiropractor will address the root cause of your pain in order to eliminate it in the long term.
4. Prevent Future Injury
Many problems related to the spine are compounded over time, meaning one injury can leave you susceptible to more in the future. A car accident chiropractor will address your injuries sustained in the accident, but they also often add strength to the spine and muscles that was not there before. By incorporating adjustments and lifestyle changes through chiropractic care, you may find that your body is able to withstand future impact more effectively, preventing you from suffering injuries during another accident, fall, or as you age.
5. Address the Root Cause
As a whole, chiropractic care is based on a philosophy of addressing the root cause of an issue. Rather than mask pain with medication or find ways to cope with pain, a car accident chiropractor will identify your injury and its impact on your body and work to fix the problem at its root. Spinal adjustments align the spine and prevent breakdowns in nerve communication which may prevent the body from healing properly. By visiting a car accident chiropractor regularly, your body begins to return to proper alignment and prevent pain from occurring in the first place.
6. Maintain Overall Health
While an injury may bring you to the car accident chiropractor, their focus will be on your health as a complete picture. By addressing misalignments in the spine, your body is able to better communicate, allowing for optimal function. Many people report visiting a chiropractor for whiplash or neck pain and finding they also have improved digestion or a reduction in other problems like headaches. Your chiropractor will check in on your health as a whole during recovery in order to ensure your body is working holistically for the long term.