Chiropractic Care After An Accident

Chiropractic care is one of the common alternative treatment options recommended by doctors and other health care providers to help realign the spine and other joints. This mode of treatment is of especial importance following a car accident that may lead to neck and whiplash injuries.

If you’ve recently been involved in a road traffic accident or direct trauma, studies have shown that receiving chiropractic care within the first 15 days of the incident could be beneficial. Here are some of the key benefits of receiving chiropractic care after an accident.

1. Reduce inflammation

Any sort of physical injury to tissues stimulates inflammation in the affected area. While inflammation is a beneficial process that helps the body trigger the healing process – severe inflammation following an accident is harmful and may cause troublesome symptoms. Pain due to inflammation often presents in different ways compared to other types of pain. It is often accompanied by
pain that increases with mobility and stiffness of the affected area. The classic symptom of inflammation in the back and neck is feeling pain and stiffness in the morning – when you first wake up.

Your body responds well to chiropractic manipulation as it reduces the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Lower production of cytokines helps lower the inflammation – leading to reduced pain and swelling.

2. Minimize pain

Chiropractic adjustments after the accident are proven effective for reducing pain and body aches. Spinal manipulation done by the chiropractor reduces the production of pain hormones and increases the threshold of pain receptors – leading to reduced pain and swelling throughout the body. According to a large study, participants who received spinal manipulation after an accident showed reduced production of pain-stimulating hormones such as neurotensin and cortisol.

3. Restore range of motion

Loss of flexibility and range of motion are among the primary symptoms experienced by people after a car accident. It is often due to misalignment of the vertebral joints, inflammation of the affected area, or formation of scar tissue. A chiropractor mobilizes your spine and other joints and returns the displaced joints to proper alignment – increasing flexibility and restoring range of motion.

4. Reduce scar tissue

The formation of scar tissue following a motor vehicle accident is pretty common. The scar is formed when the body attempts to heal itself when muscles or tendons get damaged during the trauma. Scar tissues can be a cause of long-term pain and stiffness. In most of cases, the scar tissue resolves itself and eventually functions like normal tissue. However, in some cases, it becomes bigger and causes scarring of the side by tissues – causing discomfort. If this is the case, consulting a chiropractor would be a smart move. Chiropractors use specific tools to break the hard scar tissues – helping the body to reduce inflammation and boost recovery.

5. Experience non-invasive treatment

Most people with a car accident want to avoid invasive interventions and look for alternative and non-invasive treatment options. However, waiting for too long to treat your injuries could end up resulting in more damage. Visiting a chiropractor soon after the accident is proven to reduce the chances of surgery by up to 20%.

Conclusion

Chiropractors are specialist health care providers when it comes to treating injuries and reducing pain. They use a variety of tools and manipulation techniques to realign the joints and break the scar tissues. Benefits of visiting a chiropractor right after the accident include reduced pain and inflammation, increased flexibility, and improved range of motion – all help to stimulate healing and boost recovery.