A car accident doesn’t have to be extremely traumatic to seek attention from a chiropractor afterward. But before we dive into why you should visit a chiropractor after a car accident, let’s take a quick look at the science behind a car accident.
Whenever there’s a car accident, something is moving: be it your car, the object you collide with, or both. When something is moving, it has kinetic energy—the faster the object is moving, the more kinetic energy it has.
Whenever a car slows down or comes to a stop, that energy has to go somewhere. Normally, this is done through the break. But in a car accident, that kinetic energy goes to the interior of a car. As a result, the energy impacts you.
This is where the injuries occur, even if you’re not immediately aware of it. Injuries are the result of this chaotic and sudden influx of energy. Your spine is especially vulnerable when driving.
Whiplash is a common suspect of any pain and soreness you feel around your neck after a car accident. The energy exerted on your body forces the rapid movement of your head. This sudden movement, or whipping, causes neck pain, stiffness, and/or chronic headaches. A chiropractor specializes in treating whiplash.
Another effect of a car accident is inflammation, which you may not notice. That impact in a car accident is felt throughout your entire body. As a result, there can be tears in your muscles and ligaments that fail to appear on an x-ray. A chiropractor can locate these and decide which treatment is the best approach.
Beyond the physical reasons to see a chiropractor after a car accident, there are legal and financial motives that factor into it.
A diagnosis from following a car accident is crucial in an insurance claim, and a chiropractor can give you a specific diagnosis. Additionally, if the car accident was not your fault, a diagnosis from a chiropractor can be used as proof to pursue compensation for your medical costs.
Chiropractors can treat your injuries non-invasively and without the risk of drugs. The sooner you visit a chiropractor after a car accident, the less likely your injuries are to become long-term. If you’ve been in a car accident, call Grennan Chiropractic for treatment as soon as possible.