Records suggest that approximately 3 million people are injured in car accidents every year, but the reality is that not all injuries are recorded meaning that the official figure could be a lot higher. Many of these accidents result in minor and superficial injuries, some of which are not detected until hours, days or even weeks later. This is because not all physical damage sustained is visible right away. Those injuries affecting the musculoskeletal system in particular can be hidden until pain or mobility problems manifest, causing you to seek help.
Some of the typical musculoskeletal injuries sustained as a result of a car accident include the following:
– Strains and sprains
– Dislocations
– Fractures
– Herniated discs
– Muscle, tendon and ligament overextension and tears
– Spinal cord damage
Many experts recommend that you visit a chiropractor within the first 48 hours after being involved in a car accident. The reason for this is that chiropractors are specialists in conditions and injuries affecting the musculoskeletal system. They will be able to comprehensively assess your body position to determine if you have sustained any damage, and work with you to treat those injuries so that you can manage any discomfort or pain, regain mobility and recovery much more quickly. Chiropractic care can also help to ensure that you don’t experience any long-term negative effects from your accident. Here are some of the ways how chiropractic care can help you to recover faster from a car accident.
Reducing Inflammation
Inflammation is our body’s response to injury and so is to be expected after a car accident. Unfortunately, this is something that won’t show up in any tests that you may have following your accident, but you may have experienced dozens of tiny tears in your soft tissue that will trigger inflammation and pain and may cause you to have limited mobility. Chiropractic care increases the flow of oxygenated blood around your body and will trigger the release of anti-inflammatory substances, helping to counteract this effect.
Natural Pain Relief
Feeling achy and sore is to be expected following a car accident. However, sometimes the injuries sustained cause prolonged discomfort, such as if you have suffered a back problem like a herniated disc. Chiropractic manipulations not only reduce inflammation and as such, associated pain, but they also stimulate the release of natural pain-relieving endorphins which help get your discomfort under control. This could mean that you have less reliance on pain medications – something that many people are keen to avoid.
Scar Tissue Prevention
Scar tissue forms at the site of any injury, whether it occurs internally or externally. Sometimes the body produces too much scar tissue, causing it to become thickened and limit your range of movement. Similarly, if scar tissue forms on muscles, it can cause them to become thicker, shorter and less flexible, decreasing your muscle strength as well as compromising your movement. Chiropractic care has shown to be effective in reducing the formation of scar tissue to prevent these issues from occurring.
Restoration Of Movement
Unsurprisingly, many of the injuries sustained in a car accident can limit your range of movement. This can occur due to pain, inflammation, damage to the muscles, tendons and ligaments and other reasons. Chiropractic care seeks to restore patients with their full range of movement following their car accident, enabling them to get back to normal more quickly.
If you would like more information about how chiropractic care can help you to recover more quickly following a car accident, please contact our knowledgeable team.