Houston’s #1 Car Accident Chiropractor
Auto accident injuries are one of the most common causes of injuries in the United States. Although we think of major car accidents being the ones you might need treatment for, it is also very important to get evaluated even for the minor ones. If auto injuries go left untreated, there is a good possibility of it developing into a long-term chronic condition. Let our doctors here at Elite Spine and Health Center, Dr. Billy Cheong, Dr. Kesia Broome, Dr. Elias Madrid, Dr. Tabotha Green, or Dr. Francis Jopanda, evaluate you for your injuries. Our team will develop a personalized treatment plan to help with your injuries, making sure your injuries heal properly and completely so you can get you back to your normal life.
Auto accident injuries describe bodily damage that results from the impact of a car accident. Car accidents are unpredictable and can cause more injuries than you might expect.
Even if you don’t feel much pain immediately, you should still consider visiting Elite Spine and Health Center for a comprehensive evaluation soon after your accident.
Even minor car accident injuries can worsen without treatment and turn into long-term complications needing management. The team specializes in using evidence-based chiropractic therapies for soft tissue car accident injuries, including spinal manipulation, massage therapy, and joint realignment.
Treatments for auto accident injuries aim to reduce pain while restoring function to injured body parts. You might need to try more than one approach before finding the relief you need.
The team at Elite Spine and Health Center specializes in diagnosing and treating injuries that happen on impact in a car crash.
Whiplash injuries are especially common in auto accidents because the impact jolts your head forward and backward or side to side. These injuries affect the soft tissues of the neck, like muscles and ligaments.
Other common auto accident injuries are:
- Spinal cord injuries
- Concussions
- Bone fractures
- Strains and sprains
- Lacerations
Many injuries in auto accidents cause pain, but not always immediately. That’s why it’s important to get an evaluation soon after a car accident even if you think you’re injury-free or have injuries that seem mild.
5 Chiropractic Treatments for Car Accident Victims
Did you know that 3 million people are injured every year in car accidents? Even with a minor collision, you should still visit a medical professional and get evaluated. Some injuries might not show up immediately, and they can cause permanent damage if left unchecked.
Car accident victims benefit from seeing a chiropractor who can help treat any injuries obtained from a car accident. Keep reading to learn more about the most common chiropractic treatments for anyone who has been in a car accident.
1. Spinal Manipulation
Spinal manipulation is a common treatment for whiplash, but it also aids with other injuries. There are three techniques involved in spinal manipulation: the instrument-assisted technique, the specific spinal manipulation technique, and the flexion-distraction.
The instrument-assisted manipulation technique is a gentle option where a chiropractor uses a specialized hand-held tool. They’ll apply force to the spine with this tool, but there’s no thrusting involved. It’s the best option for older car accident victims who also have joint problems.
The flexion-distraction technique is another hands-on approach. It involves treating herniated or bulging discs using gentle spinal manipulation. If you get whiplash from an accident, it can aggravate a herniated disc.
To help reduce inflammation, your chiropractor will use slow-pumping actions on that disc.
The specific spinal manipulation involves the chiropractor identifying spinal joins with restricted or abnormal motion. Then they’ll use a thrusting technique to restore motion to that joint. The thrusting allows the soft tissues to stretch, and it triggers the nervous system to restore motion to the joints in your spine.
2. Muscle Massaging
One of the best ways to recover from a car accident injury is to get a massage. This doesn’t mean any ordinary massage; going to a professional chiropractor who can locate the source of physical stress will speed up your recovery.
When you are experiencing stiffness and neck pain, a massage can help bring more oxygen to the muscles, and this helps them heal faster. It also helps break up scar tissue from older car accident injuries.
Not only does it help with back and neck pain, but it can also help with head traumas. If you suffered from a concussion after a car accident and you’ve received medical treatment, the next step is to make a massage appointment. Getting a deep tissue massage is helpful with treating headaches and stress.
Outside of physical pain, a massage can help reduce the amount of cortisol in your body. Cortisol is the stress hormone, and lower cortisol means less stress. It’s important to take care of your emotional health at this time as well.
3. Whiplash Treatment
One of the most common injuries that individuals suffer after a car collision is whiplash. This is a neck injury that occurs when the head is jolted backward and forward. The severity can range from mild to severe.
During the acute stage of whiplash, the chiropractor focuses on reducing inflammation. They may use ultrasounds, manual therapy techniques, and gentle stretching.
Outside of the treatments that a chiropractor does in their office to help whiplash, they’ll also be able to make recommendations that help speed up your recovery process. This might mean suggesting ice packs to the injured area or light neck support pillows.
Once the pain and inflammation have decreased, your chiropractor can focus on spinal manipulation and other treatments to restore regular motion to the joints in your neck.
4. Joint Realignment
After a car accident, car crash victims will likely have stiffness in their neck and back. This type of inflammation can cause more problems than just pain and discomfort. It can hinder your range of motions.
Having inflammation slows down your healing process because your blood and nutrients can’t get to the places they need to be. This means you’ll have trouble moving the way you normally would, and it can take longer than it should get that range of motion back.
Joint realignment can release this blockage and promote the motion of your neck and spine. When you make an appointment with your chiropractor, they’ll look at your injuries and create a customized healing plan.
5. Pain Reduction
Nobody wants to deal with physical pain; it can make the healing process feel long and arduous. That’s why the right chiropractor will incorporate treatments that not only help you get back to normal, but they’ll reduce any pain that comes with being the victim of a car crash.
Your chiropractor can realign your spine and relieve the pressure of your tense muscles and impinged nerves. This will give you immediate relief. When you receive spinal manipulation treatment, the body releases pain-relieving hormones, which minimizes pain as well.
Chiropractors also use manual therapy to treat injured ligaments and muscles. This includes trigger point therapy, manual joint stretching, therapeutic massages, and soft tissue therapy. All of these treatments relax the body and help relieve tension—and that means less pain!
Chiropractic Car Accident Treatments
Being in a car accident causes significant emotional and physical stress. The last thing you need to deal with is an injury that interrupts your day-to-day. Even if you don’t notice any pain, you must see a chiropractor.
There are numerous benefits for car accident victims who get chiropractic treatments. Once you make that first step, you’ll have peace of mind that you’re on the right path towards feeling like yourself again.
Looking for the best chiropractic treatments in Houston? Be sure to make an appointment with us and start feeling your best!