You never think it’ll happen to you. Car accidents are one of the top causes of injuries in the US and affect more than three million people every year! Traffic congestion and time spent on the road increase your risk of being in an accident.

Even a minor incident can have a serious impact on your body. So, let’s take a closer look at some of the common injuries that result from car accidents—and how chiropractic care can help you overcome them.

4 Auto Injuries That Benefit From Chiropractic Care

Due to the speeds at which most people drive, any impact exerts a serious force on your body. Be sure to get a medical check-up after an accident to confirm any breaks or serious internal injuries. 

A chiropractor provides a holistic treatment and recovery plan to support your body as it heals. From pain management to mobility, here’s how chiropractic care can help you feel like yourself again!

Whiplash

Whiplash is when your neck is jerked forward and back again on impact. You don’t always feel it right away, but it can set in over the days following an accident. If your neck is stiff, sore, or can’t turn comfortably, there is likely inflammation in your neck due to soft tissue damage.

If left untreated, this painful injury can linger for a long time. A chiropractor can provide manual therapy, correct misalignments, and provide exercises to help relieve the pain and stiffness in your neck. 

Neck and Shoulder Pain

The impact of an accident can stretch and tear soft tissue in your neck and shoulders. Tendons, ligaments, nerves, and muscles can all be affected. When carrying out your daily activities, you’ll experience tension, pain—and even headaches! At night, it might be difficult to sleep comfortably.

If you don’t address the damage in your neck and shoulders, you can do more harm as your body tries to compensate for sore points over time. A chiropractor gently massages the area to improve lymph drainage and reduce inflammation. They also mobilize your shoulders and improve their range of motion using specific exercises.

Spinal Cord Injuries

As your vertebrae are jolted in an accident, your spinal cord and nervous system as a whole take a hit. Depending on the severity of the incident, you might suffer from fractures, herniated discs, or nerve damage. These injuries cause back pain, stiffness, and transferred pain—pain felt in other parts of your body. Rehabilitation is vital when it comes to recovering from spinal injuries.

A chiropractor checks your spine for any misalignments that could be causing nerve pain and makes the necessary corrections. This allows your nervous system to function optimally which supports healing. Massage therapy also reduces the inflammation that causes stiffness and pain around the spine.

Joint Injuries

The placement of your hands and feet in a vehicle means your limbs are the first to feel the force of the deceleration. Muscles usually tense on impact, which worsens the jarring on your joints. The result? Joint injuries and pain from your fingers to your elbows, knees, and toes.

Chiropractors are experts at treating joints. They gently manipulate and massage the tissue around the joints to reduce inflammation. They also work on the joints to increase mobility and teach you how to continue to strengthen your joints safely at home. 

How To Recover Faster From a Car Accident

Besides supporting your body through chiropractic care after an accident, there are other ways to help you recover from auto injuries.

  • A healthy diet provides your body with the nutrients it needs to heal. Don’t forget hydration!
  • Your mental health matters. Talk about the accident. See a professional if thoughts and feelings about the accident start taking over instead of subsiding.
  • Keep moving—exercise speeds up recovery time. Play it safe by listening to your body and following the advice of your chiropractor.
  • Get enough sleep. It lowers stress in your body and, you guessed it—encourages healing!

Find out more about how chiropractic care can help you recover after an accident. Contact Integrated Health & injury, serving Atlanta and Decatur, Georgia, to schedule an appointment. 

Use our contact form, or dial one of these numbers:

Decatur – 404-288-9000

Atlanta – 404-691-4822