Millions of car accidents occur across the United States every day. Some are very minor, with little damage to either car or person, while others are much more severe, requiring hospitalization or worse. Irrespective of the severity of your injuries after being involved in an auto accident, it’s important to see a chiropractor as soon as you can.

What is a chiropractor?

A chiropractor is a trained, medical professional who focuses on the diagnosis, treatment and management of conditions and injuries affecting the musculoskeletal system. This refers to the extensive network of bones, muscles, ligaments, tendons and other connective tissues that let us move our bodies. They are licensed professionals that use a range of different techniques. These include manual/spinal manipulations, spinal decompression, physical therapy, hot/cold therapy and massage. Your chiropractor will explain which techniques they will recommend based on the car accident injuries that you have sustained.

Why see a chiropractor following a car accident?

There are a variety of reasons why you should make it a priority to see a chiropractor in the days following a car/vehicle accident.

• Chiropractors are experts in diagnosing non-visible injuries

Many people who have been involved in minor car accidents don’t realize that they have sustained a musculoskeletal injury right away. In fact, it’s often not until a few days later, when pain and mobility problems kick in, that they become aware. This puts you at risk of making the injury worse and sustaining further damage. A prompt trip to your chiropractor can ensure fast diagnosis and support for any injuries that you may have.

• Chiropractic care is a non-invasive treatment that doesn’t require the use of anesthetic

Unlike many conventional medical treatments, chiropractic care is non-invasive, and patients do not need any anesthetic whilst they are being treated. You may experience some discomfort initially during or following an appointment but using over-the-counter pain relief is normally sufficient to ease it. There are also no wounds to take care of, and no risk of side effects.  

• Chiropractic care can provide drug-free pain relief

Unfortunately, many people who suffer an injury and don’t see a chiropractor end up on moderate to strong pain relief while they heal and recover from their injury. Unfortunately, medications simply mask the underlying problem and patients may not heal correctly or even become addicted to the drugs that keep their pain under control. Your chiropractor can diagnose the actual injury and make recommendations for treatment that will help to heal it and prevent further pain.

• Accelerate healing and reduce scarring

Inflammation and scarring are two of the most common effects of any sort of injury, even those that happen inside the body. Inflammation is the body’s natural response to protect the site of injury. Meanwhile, scarring forms when the tissues heal. Both inflammation and scarring can restrict movement and cause pain. Excessive scar formation can even cause long term mobility problems. Fortunately, chiropractic treatment has been shown to increase circulation, which helps to counteract inflammation as well as accelerating the healing process. At the same time, chiropractic movements help to break down areas of excessive internal scar tissue, preventing overgrowth which could restrict movement.  

If you’ve been involved in a car accident and would like to make an appointment with our chiropractic team, call 419-573-0077 to reach our office in Toledo, Ohio.