Should I see a chiropractor after a car accident? Yes!
Accidents happen. In fact, since 2019, there has been an average of nearly 95,000 car accidents in the state of Washington each year. And, in 2022, we saw the highest number of serious injuries for the third year in a row.
Whether a car crash leaves your body with visible injuries or not, it’s important to seek medical attention immediately. Even when we walk away feeling fine, there can be underlying damage that may not be present for a few hours, even days, or weeks. Visiting your local chiropractor can help you identify and treat misalignments and mitigate strain or pain.
If you or a loved one has been in a car accident recently, consider visiting your local chiropractor for an evaluation. Here are five benefits a chiropractor can provide after being involved in a car accident:
Benefit 1: Identify Hidden Injuries
Many injuries caused by car accidents aren’t immediately visible. Whiplash, for example, is a common injury that can lead to neck and shoulder pain, and headaches. Working with a chiropractor can not only identify hidden injuries like whiplash but also build a treatment plan that will help you recover quickly and safely.
Benefit 2: Reduce Inflammation
When soft tissue like your tendons or ligaments experience trauma, its immediate response is to swell. This inflammation can cause stiffness, reduced range of motion, and pain across our whole bodies. Chiropractic care is an effective way to treat your inflamed muscles and joints with gentle spinal and extremity adjustments that promote healing.
Benefit 3: Support Pain Management
If you walk away from a car accident without pain, you’re incredibly lucky! But this is rare. Minor injuries can turn into chronic pain if left untreated. Chiropractic care targets misalignments in the body to reduce inflammation and improve circulation, restoring normal function to injured soft tissues.
Benefit 4: Restore Range of Motion
After an accident, it’s common to feel tense and stiff from the stress, let alone from residual injuries. Our neck tenses up, our shoulders feel sky-high, and even our blood pressure can be elevated for an extended period. These are all elements of your body’s innate healing ability. Chiropractors are well-versed on the best manual manipulation techniques to reduce inflammation and promote proper healing.
Benefit 5: Prevent Long-Term Complications
A simple strained muscle can lead us to unknowingly overcompensate throughout the recovery period, resulting in a poorly healed injury. Patients who try walking on an ankle injury too soon instead of giving it the proper time and care can have a lifetime of unbalanced gait and chronic pain. What started as a small issue turned into a lifelong unnecessary battle.
Every patient is unique, and your chiropractor is there to create a personalized treatment plan that addresses your specific needs and goals. They can combine various techniques, including spinal adjustments, massage therapy, and rehabilitation exercises to help you recover from your injuries.
If you’re able to walk away from your car accident, your first point of care should be your chiropractor. If not, then visit your chiropractor after seeing a Primary Care Physician or Urgent Care provider. Don’t wait until you experience pain or limited mobility to seek treatment. Seek out a chiropractor as soon as possible to ensure a full and speedy recovery—many clinics can accommodate walk-ins, too.