When someone is involved in a accident they usually tend to go to the doctor's office. most often they are in pain and want to find some relief. This is a great choice, however there may be a better choice since most accident victims need specialized treatment that a chiropractor or other specialist can only provide.
When the accident occurs, the body's natural instinct is to tense up and to brace itself for the impact that is coming. This is not a good thing for the condition of the body. People that are under the influence tend to be less hurt because their bodies react slower and they are not as tense during the accident which lowers their chance of injuries. While drinking is not a good idea at any time, learning to be more relaxed if an accident occurs can offer some very good advantages.
As the impact of an accident occurs, the head is typically thrown in a forward motion and then back at a very hard pace and if the airbag explodes is does so at a speed of around two hundred miles per hour. This hits the passengers and driver right in the face and chest area. While airbags have been proved to save lives it does not reduce the pain that comes when it explodes. It usually leaves injuries that are noticeable immediately.
In the instant that the accident occurs, the movement of the head strains and pulls on the muscles in the neck which often times results in a headache immediately. When the car comes to a stop, bodies are jerked from side to side and the chances of an injury to the lower and mid back as well as the hips may occur. These pains tend to appear slowly after the accident because the other pains are more apparent almost immediately.
When the person arrives at the emergency room they are almost immediately treated with pain killers and muscle relaxers. While this does work to remove the edge, the problem that is there is left without proper treatment with a hope that the body will work to heal itself over a long period of time. While this may work in some cases, the body does need some assistance to heal the damage that may cause long lasting discomfort.
The first visit to a chiropractor may be somewhat scary. People are often concerned about what will be done there that cannot be done at a regular doctors office. Others simply fear that they will have to go through it without the assistance of medication. It should help the anxiety when you consider that chiropractors are licensed and that they have completed a vast amount of education regarding the human body structure and how the body works internally. They are trained in the muscles of the body as well as how the body heals and how to make the healing occur quicker.
Once the patient has completed the x-rays and the beginning examination the chiropractors will lay out a plan for treatment that often times begins on the spot. Some of the treatments may use sonic vibrations combined with heat packs, massage and manipulation. Many people are afraid of the manipulations because you can hear the results. Like cracking your knuckles, the bones and joints are aligned and the muscles that are around the joints are relaxed. While it will not be painful, it can still be scary for someone that has not visited a chiropractor before.
Directly after the collision, people should practice extreme care until they are able to visit with the specialist. One thing to consider is to get medical treatment from a Fort Collins Chiropractor that has a specialization in bodily injuries that can cause a direct impact in the overall health and efficiency of the body. Living with the pain and suffering should not be an option when relief from the pain can be as close as a phone call.
Whiplash Injuries - Chiropractic Care
Whiplash is the term that is used to refer to neck muscle injuries that have been caused due to a sudden jerk of the head forward, backward, and sideways. No matter if the whiplash is a result of an accident, a sports injury, or an accident at the workplace, a chiropractic check up is defiantly in order. Whiplash injuries do not show up until years after the accident in some case and that is why it is a large danger for those that suffer it. Some of the common symptoms of whiplash include blurred vision, irritability, fatigue, headache, neck pain and stiffness, problems swallowing, nausea, dizziness, and pain found between the shoulder blades. Those that experience these pains or symptoms should defiantly see a chiropractor.
The treatments provided at a chiropractor are focused on cures for neck sprains so the choice to visit for whiplash is a good one. Chiropractic care is focused on treating spinal discs, improving strength in muscles, cutting down on muscle spasms, and getting the most motion from the spine.
There is no standard treatment plan for whiplash since each condition may have differences and some are more severe than others. The treatment that is provided will be specific to each individual injury and the issues that are revealed during the exam by the chiropractor.
Many chiropractic doctors use different treatments for whiplash but most all include the following:
1. Manipulation by the Chiropractor for Whiplash: The manipulation by the chiropractor, or gentle movement or short thrust on the joint that is injured in the direction that is being restricted by the injury, is the basic treatment for whiplash and treats chiropractic adjustment, joint dysfunction, and spinal manipulation.
2. Stimulation or Relaxation of the Muscles as a Treatment for a car crash: This chiropractic treatment technique uses gentle stretches of the muscles that are strained and have a lot of tension or uses repeated contractions of the inhibited muscles. More vigorous stretches many be needed if the muscles are extremely tight.
3. Multiple exercises for Whiplash: Several different types of exercises, like Stabilization/Sensorimotor exercise and McKenzie exercises are used in the treatment for injuries like whiplash and are a part of the chiropractic care.
McKenzie exercises are designed specifically for disc derangement reduction that is caused by a whiplash injury. These exercises are usually taught to the patient by the chiropractor but are used at home for self care for the injury.
Stabilization and sensorimotor exercise techniques are used to correct any movement capabilities that are limiting the daily activities in a person's life. It is used to train the nervous system to control and coordinate during movement patterns. It also increases the stability in the neck by working muscles that aid in this.
Lifestyle and ergonomic changes: This form of treatment for whiplash involves making changes in daily activities so that there is a lower amount of strain on the body. This advice from the chiropractor deals with factors that occur in work, recreational activities, and home life that may bring about dysfunctions that are a result of the whiplash. More importantly, the chiropractor will teach the patient about the "use of self" and some methods to reduce stress that is the result of a chiropractic problem.
Treatment for whiplash by a chiropractor could involve any of these treatments or others that have not been discusses. They may also feel that the patient needs to be seen by another health professional and give a referral if it is necessary.
