What should I do after a Car Crash?
Car crashes are an inevitable part of modern day society. They happen every day and can cause serious injuries to the neck and back even in the smallest crashes. Most people will experience a car crash at some point in their life and more than likely suffer from whiplash afterwards.
What is Whiplash?
Whiplash is a relatively common injury that occurs when the neck is suddenly jolted in one direction and then another, creating a whip-like movement.
Whiplash normally occurs from motor vehicle accidents, but it can also happen from falls, sports injuries, work injuries, and other incidents.
The most common type of car accident is the rear impact, and normally, the person in the vehicle that gets “rear-ended” (hit from behind) is at the highest risk of injury for whiplash.
Why Chiropractic Treatment after a Car Accident in Orlando
Chiropractic care is a highly effective solution for patients who have suffered from whiplash recently, or in the past. Chiropractors see car crash victims every day and are able to strengthen and heal the cervical spine (neck) through a variety of methods. The most common ways a chiropractor will help a car crash victim is through adjustments of the neck, specialized neck exercises, and electrical stimulation. Almost any pain that comes after a car crash a chiropractor will be able to treat and make that part of the body stronger than before.
Aftermath of Whiplash
Whiplash injuries commonly result in sprain-strain of the neck. The ligaments that help support, protect, and restrict excessive movement of the vertebrae are torn, which is called a sprain. The joints in the back of the spine, called the facet joints, are covered by ligaments called facet capsules, which seem to be particularly susceptible to whiplash injury.
This impact causes the lower cervical vertebrae (lower bones in the neck) to be forced to a point of hyperextension, while the upper cervical vertebrae (upper bones in the neck) are forced into a hyper-flexed position. This violent motion from the impact causes damage to the soft tissues that hold the cervical vertebrae together (ligaments, facet capsules, muscles). This leads to an abnormal S-shape in the cervical spine.
In more serious cases, the discs between the vertebrae (which are essentially ligaments) can tear, causing a disc herniation. The nerve roots between the vertebrae may also be stretched and become inflamed.
Beginning Stages of Treatment
Soon after whiplash occurs—in the acute phase—the chiropractor will work on reducing neck inflammation using various therapy modalities (eg, ultrasound). He or she may also use gentle stretching and manual therapy techniques (eg, muscle energy therapy).
The chiropractor may also recommend you apply an ice pack on your neck and/or a light neck support to use for a short period of time.
As your neck becomes less inflamed and the pain becomes less intense, your chiropractor will use gentle spinal manipulation or other techniques to restore normal motion to the spinal joints of the neck.
See how Dr. Jamee Fike and Dr. Daniel Warner can help you!
Whiplash Relief in Orlando FL Call: (407) 203-6745
Common Symptoms of Whiplash
- neck pain and stiffness
- headache
- shoulder pain and stiffness
- dizziness
- fatigue
- jaw pain (temporomandibular joint symptoms)
- arm pain and heaviness
- visual disturbances
- sleep disturbances
- ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
- back pain.
A car crash is a serious event in someone’s life and the injuries that happen need to be address otherwise can cause pain for years to come. If you have recently been in a car crash or have any type of aches or pain call Summit Chiropractic in Orlando, Florida at 407-203-6745 and Dr. Fike and Dr. Warner will be able to help you feel better than you have in years.
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Proper Posture in your car: Is it Possible?
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The Power of Postural Thinking
Refernces:
http://www.spine-health.com/conditions/neck-pain/what-whiplash