Did You Have a Car Accident? Discover Why You Need a Chiropractic Evaluation

Dealing with the toll a car accident takes on your body can be overwhelming. Both physical and mental responses to the impact can take months or even years to improve. It's always important to seek medical attention after a car accident, as pain management and physical therapy are critical in your recovery process. A person with stiffness, neck aches, or back pain following an auto accident can also use chiropractic care in conjunction with their rehabilitation efforts. Let's consider some reasons to visit a chiropractic clinic following a car accident:

Reduces inflammation

The body's ligaments and muscles can tear in response to an automotive accident. Small tears, often found via an x-ray, cause inflammation in the body and can be incredibly uncomfortable. Spinal manipulation, a therapeutic application of quick pressure on a joint, aligns the spine and body and reduces inflammation. 

Helps with scar tissue

It's essential to smoothen scar tissue accumulation for faster and improved recovery. When muscles have scar tissue that goes unattended, it can take longer to heal. Chiropractic treatments can minimize scar tissue and lessen its stiffness. 

Reduces the effects of long term injuries

Seeking chiropractic care early after the injury can also make it less likely for the impact to worsen over time. For example, studies have shown that many people can experience post-traumatic arthritis following a car accident as long as five years after the initial crash. In most cases, low-impact exercise and reducing inflammation in their joints can prevent a long-term injury. 

Encourages mobility

After an accident, an injury may limit the body's range of motion in the neck, back, hips, or limbs. Returning to full mobility can be a long road ahead, but you do not have to feel hopeless. Chiropractic adjustments encourage advancements in range of motion and improve post-accident quality of life. In addition to chiropractic adjustments, physiotherapy is a great way to aid and reinforce healing and keep the joints and muscles agile. 

Provides some pain relief

Chronic pain after an injury can be debilitating. A Harvard Medical School publication mentions that the American College of Physicians encourages spinal manipulation alongside other chiropractic treatments, like heat application, massage, and acupuncture, as an alternative to pain medication. 

Get the assistance you need to recover fully after the accident

Recovering after a car accident can feel like an uphill battle. However, chiropractic care in conjunction with regular low-impact exercise and finding ways to manage pain at home can make the destination seem easier to attain.