The Long-Term Benefits of Chiropractic Care After an Auto Accident Injury

Whiplash is a type of injury that affects the neck. It causes pain, stiffness, and other symptoms. Whiplash can range from being a minor injury to a serious one. Regardless, it’s a good idea to visit a chiropractor for treatment. Treatments such as chiropractic adjustments, massage therapy, and more help treat whiplash. 

Many people end up getting whiplash from being in a car accident. This is an injury that occurs from the neck forcefully jerking back and forth. It can cause a variety of negative symptoms and can become a chronic issue. It’s important to diagnose whiplash early on and receive treatment. Wall Family Chiropractic Center specializes in treating car accident injuries such as whiplash.

Whiplash Chiropractor in WA

What is Whiplash?

Whiplash is a type of soft tissue neck sprain injury. It happens when the body is subjected to a sudden, forceful back-and-forth “whipping” motion. This usually happens from car accidents, but can also occur from sports injuries, roller coasters, slip-and-falls, and other types of accidents. Whiplash can happen from different types of car accidents, such as side-impact and head-on collisions, but most commonly from rear-end collisions. 

Whiplash causes damage to ligaments, nerves, muscle tissue, and even spinal discs in the neck and shoulders. Whiplash injury can go away on its own, and sometimes doesn’t last long. However, people may experience chronic symptoms for months or even years afterward. Someone suffering from whiplash may not experience symptoms right away. This is why it is important for people who were in a car accident to get checked out by a chiropractor. 

Symptoms of Whiplash

There are a variety of symptoms that can be attributed to whiplash. They range from mild to debilitating. Some of them include:

• Pain and tenderness in the neck and shoulders. 
• Recurring headaches and migraines that often radiate from the base of the skull. 
• Stiffness or reduced range of motion in the neck and shoulders. 
• Vertigo, dizziness, and lightheadedness. 
• Numbness, weakness, pins-and-needles, and/or tingling in the arms or shoulders. 
• Difficulty focusing. 
• Psychological issues such as mood swings, anxiety, depression, and irritability. 
• Blurry vision. 
• Trouble getting to sleep and staying asleep, as well as fatigue. 
• Buzzing or ringing in the ears (tinnitus). 

WA car accident injury chiropractor 

There are different levels of severity of whiplash. There is actually a grading system to classify how serious a person’s whiplash injury is. It is known as the Quebec Classification of Whiplash-Associated Disorders. 

• Grade 0: Person doesn’t feel any symptoms of whiplash injury, but may still be affected. 
• Grade 1: Patient experiences pain and tenderness at the injury site, as well as stiffness with movement. 
• Grade 2: Person experiences pain and stiffness, as well as physical signs of whiplash injury. These may include bruising, swelling, muscle spasms, and more. 
• Grade 3: This stage is where the whiplash is causing neurological symptoms in addition to those previously mentioned. Injury-induced swelling and inflammation can disrupt nerve signals. 
• Grade 4: This is the worst category of whiplash injury. It could include any of the previously mentioned symptoms. However, these symptoms will be more serious and even dangerous. Patients in this category may have a misaligned vertebra putting pressure on nerves or the spinal cord.

Regardless of how intense your whiplash symptoms are, it’s a smart idea to visit a chiropractor. At Wall Family Chiropractic Center, we can conduct a health examination and test for any potential injuries. If you were in a car accident, it’s highly recommended to visit a chiropractor as soon as possible. Chiropractic treatment can help: 

• Prevent whiplash symptoms from becoming long-term and chronic. Early intervention can preserve range-of-motion and lower inflammation levels. 
• Break up scar tissue and prevent it from forming. 
• Reduce lingering pain in the neck and back. 

What treatments do chiropractors use?

At Wall Family Chiropractic Center, we do both chiropractic adjustments and massage therapy. Different treatment methods help whiplash victims in different ways. 

• Massage therapy increases circulation and encourages blood flow and healing in injured areas. 
• Therapeutic massage and other soft tissue therapies, such as instrument-assisted methods, can ease muscle tension. 
• Your chiropractor can recommend specific stretches and exercises to help strengthen your neck and improve your range of motion. 
• Gentle chiropractic adjustments can improve musculoskeletal function by bringing the spine back into proper alignment. It can also take pressure off the surrounding tissues. 
• Lifestyle advice about correct posture and daily activities can help reduce strain on the neck as it heals. 

People suffering from whiplash can experience many benefits from visiting a chiropractor. Although whiplash is a common car accident injury, it should be taken seriously. Whiplash symptoms can make daily life difficult, which is why it’s important to get treatment. If you live in or around Tacoma, Wall Family Chiropractic Center is the clinic you can rely on. Call our office today!

Summary & FAQ’s

Your chiropractor will determine whether or not you need an X-ray or an MRI scan. There are a variety of factors that go into the decision, including injuries, symptoms, and the type of accident that they were involved in. X-rays are effective for seeing skeletal issues, while MRI scans are better at seeing soft tissues.