YES! Chiropractors are musculoskeletal (muscle and joint) specialists and even at a low speeds your muscles and joints after a car accident may be experiencing some level of shock and pain. The sudden, unexpected motions your body experienced during a collision can have a large impact on your body, even if you feel fine it is better to be safe, go get checked out. The state of Pennsylvania is considered a “no fault” state when it comes to car accidents. This means no matter who is at fault for the accident, your car insurances will cover your physical aches and pains you are experiencing from the car accident. Your car insurance provider will cover the medial expenses up to your personal injury protection (PIP) limit, no matter who caused the accident. So get checked out!
It is also important to note that you may start to feel more pain after the initial shock of the accident has worn off. It may take a few days before your body fully calms down and starts to feel the after math of the accident. Seeing a chiropractor as soon as possible can may help speed up the healing process for you; addressing the strain on your body sooner rather than later will help you in the long run.
The most common car accident injuries:
- Whiplash
- Cuts/bruises
- Muscle soreness
- Muscle strains
- Tendon Sprains
- Concussions
- Traumatic brain injury
- Broken bones
- Headaches
Whiplash:
A common concern after a car accident is whiplash. It is estimated that there are 3 million new cases every year. Whiplash symptoms may include:
- Stiffness in the neck
- Neck pain
- Difficulty turning your head fully
- Headaches that may reach down into the neck
- Pain/tenderness in the shoulders or upper back
- Numbness or “pins and needles” tingling in the arms
If you think you have whiplash a Chiropractor can help ease some of the pain and tension from the stressed structures in your neck and back.
Car accident myths
- Damage to the car predicts injury to the person.
FALSE! The amount of damage to the car is NOT a predictor of how much injury the people in the car will face.
- If you don’t feel pain right after the accident you’re not injured.
FALSE! Probably. After the accident the adrenaline in your system may mask the pain. It may take a few days before your body calms down and can start to feel some of the stress from the accident.
- If you can’t see the injury, it must not exists.
FALSE! Just because there are no cuts or bruises doesn’t mean you are not injured. Whiplash and concussions are common examples. Often there are no cuts or bruises with either of these injuries. Just because you can’t see the injury, does NOT mean that there is no injury.
- Your car insurance premium will go up if you open a claim for health care.
FALSE! If you are paying for car insurance you have a personal injury protection (PIP) limit in your policy. Your car insurance provider will cover your medical expenses from your accident until you reach you PIP
Typical care after your car accident injury:
1. Soft tissue therapy:
After a car accident you may be experiencing muscle pain and tension. Your muscles, fascia, tendons, and ligaments are known as soft tissue. Soft tissue does not mean gentle, it means the treatment is used on non boney areas. Soft tissue therapy is typically a hands on approach but your doctor may also use a metal tool to apply pressure to the knots and tender points. A common brand of metal tools that are well known is Graston.
2. Spinal adjustments:
When a joint is not moving correctly, we often utilize chiropractic manipulation, an adjustment. This adjustment is used to restore function and motion into the joint. This technique frequently uses light pressure and sometimes a gentle thrust; occasionally accompanied by a pop or cracking sound. (Not to worry, this is not your bones moving out of place or breaking, it is simply a release of nitrogen gas from the joint.) Manipulation or adjustments have been proven to be beneficial in many different conditions including: back pain, neck pain, headaches, ankle sprains, disc herniations, etc. This can be performed using the chiropractors hands or a device called an activator.
3. Home exercises:
After you are out of the initial pain phase, exercises are important to incorporate into a weekly routine so that pain and function remain optimal. We give advice as to which exercises should be performed and which should be avoided due to your condition.
Other tols we have in the office:
KINESIOLOGY TAPING WITH ROCKTAPE
Kinesiology tape is used for several reasons. Our favorite is to help give proprioception to the brain to help stabilize a joint. This allows a joint to be stabilized by using your own muscles and not rely on a brace. This tape has a stretch component to it which allows you to not lose any range of motion while it is applied. Kinesio tape also helps lift the skin which promotes more blood flow to the area to help decrease inflammation and muscle spasms.
CUPPING THERAPY
Made popular by Michael Phelps in the 2016 Olympics. Cupping draws blood to the area to promote healing, loosens muscles, and reduces pain signals in the area. It is an ancient Chinese healing practice that we at Premier often add a modern spin. We will sometimes add motion to cupping which is a great way to maximize these great benefits.
LASER THERAPY
Our class III laser is the only laser to receive FDA Market Clearance for treatment of low back pain. But that is not all that this laser can do. Our Erchonia laser is the most evidence based laser with peer-reviewed research showing the benefits of reducing inflammation, increasing blood flow decreasing pain, improving range of motion and expediting tissue healing. For more information, http://www.erchonia.com/laser-applications.
ELECTRIC MUSCLE STIMULATION, THERAPEUTIC ULTRASOUND
Non-painful modalities that can help temporarily block pain signals and stop muscle spasms.
If you are in pain or injured
The bottom line is if you are injured in an accident seek help. Contact a doctor to get yourself taken care of and if you are worried about any legal concerns contact a lawyer. Here is a list of some of the top rated lawyers in the area who may be able to provide some insight.
Booking info:
At Premier Chiropractic Clinic we have 1 male and 1 female chiropractor for those of you who feel more comfortable with one over the other. If you would like to schedule an appointment with us feel free to give us a call at 412-341-2505 or you can schedule an appointment on our website! You’re currently in the ‘blog’ section of the site, please look in the upper left hand corner of the screen for the 3 little horizontal bars (the hamburger). From there at the bottom of the list you should see a large button that says, “Book Appointment,” that should walk you through the appointment.
The secret to booking is to book AT LEAST 2 hours prior to when you want to visit us. If you decide you want to make an appointment with less than 2 hours notice please give us a call! The online schedule will not let you book with less than 2 hours before an appointment time, so it may say online that you cannot book but we may have a last minute opening to help you!
