Motor vehicle accidents lead to more deaths and bodily injuries than any other type of accidents. Victims of motor vehicle accidents often have to deal with myriad long term and short term health problems such as back pain and neck pain. Pain in the neck or back after an accident may be an indicator that one has a serious problem. Unfortunately, some patients may dismiss such pain as minor especially if they have other physically visible body injuries that they regard as being more significant. Ignoring back or neck pains, however, may ultimately lead to severe pain or stiffness of muscles as well as the joints. For this reason, it is important to seek the help of a chiropractor who can accurately diagnose the root cause of neck and back pain and offer the appropriate treatment options.
Besides mild neck or back pain, chiropractors can also help to treat whiplash in the neck area, which occurs due to motor vehicle accidents. While medical doctors can offer pain relief for whiplash, only a trained chiropractor can enable an accident victim to recover fully from this type of injury. Chiropractors treat this injury by realigning the neck muscles and the vertebrae in the affected neck area. In addition, they employ various massage techniques that promote the flow of blood and relieve tension in the neck area, therefore, speeding up the healing process.
After a motor vehicle accident, the services of a chiropractor are so important that, in some cases, the availability, or lack thereof, of these services can determine whether or not accidents victims will recover fully from their injuries. Most doctors who have accident patients with back pain will often advise their clients to seek help from a chiropractor.
Depending on the sitting position of a motor vehicle driver or passenger at the time of the accident, one is likely to suffer pain in different parts of his or her back. If the pain is too severe immediately after an accident, this might be an indicator that the back damage has affected a patient’s nervous system. A chiropractic health center can treat such intense pain using methods such as realigning/readjusting the patient’s spine or guiding the patient through an exercise regimen. In such cases, a well thought out exercise plan is very important since it helps patients to build up muscles that are crucial to support as well as protect the affected area.
In general, motor vehicle accidents victims who seek the services of a chiropractor due to back and neck pain are more likely to recover fully. That said, it is important to note that chiropractors often recommend that, in addition to taking their medication, patients who have these types of injuries should engage in moderate physical activities as soon as possible. Patients who remain immobile for long periods of time may experience muscle stiffness, which usually slows down the healing process. However, patients should also ensure that they do not either overwork their muscles or aggravate their injuries by engaging in strenuous physical activities.
