Bottom Line:
Whether you are just driving to work or taking a big family vacation, an unexpected car accident can cause painful injuries that impact you for months and years to come.
The weight of your vehicle combined with motion and speed can create a tremendous amount of force.
Even low-speed collisions can generate enough force to cause significant injury.
Whatever the details, one thing remains true…
Your body is the primary recipient of that force!
If you’ve recently been in an auto accident, the first thing you should do is make an appointment with a chiropractor specializing in collision accident injuries in Austin, Texas.
The violent forces that occur during an auto accident can cause damage to your spinal discs, ligaments, tendons, and bones-even at “low” speeds.
After a collision event, the most frequent injuries occur from the rapid whipping of the head back and forth.
This rapid back and forth motion frequently results in ligament tearing and spinal disc injuries.
Symptoms such as neck pain, back pain, headaches, confusion, and even depression may indicate that you’ve suffered a whiplash injury.
Why it Matters:
You may be surprised to learn that shoulder injuries are among the most common ones received in auto accidents, in addition to whiplash.
With its many bones, muscles, ligaments, and tendons, the shoulder is one of the body’s most complex structures.
If you are the driver and have your hands on the wheel at the time of the crash, the sudden force created by the accident can lead to a torn rotator cuff.
Seat belt related injuries are also some of the most common injuries after a collision accident.
Your seat belt can irritate impingement syndromes in the shoulder and contribute to other spinal injuries.
That said, remember this.
Wearing a seat belt is imperative whenever you get into a car since it saves millions of lives annually.
In addition to head and shoulder injuries, a sudden stop or change in direction during an accident can also place a tremendous force on your chest.
What’s more, since your arms and legs are more than likely unsecured, they can strike the interior of your car, causing additional injuries.
Common Injuries After a Collision Accident
So, here are a few of the most common reasons we recommend you see a chiropractor specializing in collision accident injuries in Austin, Texas after any collision accident.
- Head Injuries: Striking your head against the steering wheel, dashboard, or window can result in a severe head injury such as a concussion (which is considered a mild traumatic brain injury).
- Spinal Injuries: The forces that occur during a car accident can cause spinal injuries like instability, whiplash, or herniated discs.
- Arm or Leg Injuries: Injuries to your shoulders (if you’re holding the wheel) or your knees (if they hit the door or dashboard) are very common after a car accident.
Next Steps:
Ignoring any injury, whether it’s on our list of the most common injuries after a collision accident or not, is not a good idea.
Getting checked is crucial if you are involved in an automobile accident, regardless of how minor it may be.
Taking the right action steps as quickly as possible can make a huge difference in your overall well-being and healing.
In actuality, most accident injuries can be managed conservatively, and many don’t even need surgery.
Research has shown chiropractic care to be very effective at treating injuries like neck and back pain, headaches, whiplash injuries, and extremity issues.
If you’re searching for a chiropractor specializing in collision accident injuries in Austin, Texas, know that our doors are open and our expert team is here to help, right now.
In addition to treating the majority of frequent injuries sustained in collision accidents, our goals are pain relief, mobility restoration, and long-term rehabilitation.
A complete evaluation is how we determine the extent of your injuries and begin your journey towards recovery.
What’s more, our practice’s evaluation process and assessment tools can help us fully document your injuries for your records, your medical doctor’s records, your insurance providers records, and, when needed, your attorney’s records.
Then with a combination of conservative treatments designed specifically for you, we can help you find relief as quickly, safely, and naturally as possible.
Science Source:
The Impact of Musculoskeletal Injuries Sustained in Traffic Crashes. BMC. 2018.