Accidents happen, and the aftermath can be quite unsettling. The resounding “Bam,” the jarring “Crash,” and the inevitable “Ouch” – auto accidents not only leave your car in shambles but can also take a toll on your health.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there are an astonishing 6 million motor vehicle accidents annually, translating to around 16,000 accidents every day. These incidents vary in scale; some are significant, while others seem minor. Some result in heart-wrenching “lucky to be alive” stories, while others leave us with nothing more than a “just a little sore” tale to tell. Regardless of the severity, it’s crucial to grasp the health implications of auto accidents, whether they’re colossal or seemingly insignificant.

First and foremost, it’s essential to recognize that there’s no such thing as walking away from an accident unscathed. Why? Because when an impact occurs, your body, despite being secured in a vehicle, responds to the forces at play. Even if you’re conscientious and buckled in, your body’s reflexes can’t react swiftly enough to fully shield you from injury.

Now, please don’t misinterpret this message. Wearing your seat belt, having a properly functioning airbag, and positioning your headrest correctly are all vital safety measures that significantly reduce the risk of injury. They play an indispensable role in safeguarding your well-being during the unpredictable events that follow an auto accident.

Why Choose Chiropractic Care at Inner Vitality Chiropractic?

At Inner Vitality Chiropractic, we pride ourselves on being your trusted partners on your journey to better health and well-being. Here’s why choosing our chiropractic care is the right decision for you:

Experienced Practitioners

Our chiropractic team consists of experienced practitioners who are committed to delivering the highest quality care. Dr. Overholt had his first experience with chiropractic after a car accident. It changed his health so much that he left his job to pursue a career in Chiropractic. With years of training and clinical experience, our chiropractors are well-equipped to address a wide range of health issues. We continually stay at the forefront of chiropractic techniques and technologies, ensuring that you receive the most effective and up-to-date treatments available.

Holistic Approach

We firmly believe in going beyond symptom relief. Our holistic approach to chiropractic care is rooted in addressing the root causes of your health concerns. While alleviating symptoms is essential, we understand that true healing comes from improving the overall functioning of your nervous system.

Whole-Person Wellness

Our approach takes into account your physical, mental, and emotional well-being. By enhancing the connection between your spine and nervous system, we aim to unlock your body’s innate healing potential. This holistic perspective empowers you to not only feel better but also to thrive in all aspects of your life.

Personalized Care

No two individuals are the same, and neither are their health needs. We recognize your uniqueness and provide personalized care plans that cater to your specific health goals and concerns. From the moment you walk through our doors, we take the time to understand your individual needs, ensuring that your treatment plan is tailored to you.

Your Health, Your Way

Your health journey is a partnership between you and our team. We work closely with you to set achievable goals and milestones, making sure that you are an active participant in your own well-being. Your preferences, comfort, and progress are all taken into account as we craft a chiropractic care plan that works for you.

Common Auto Injuries We Treat

Neck Injury

If you are in an accident, 100% of the time your neck is injured. There is no way around it regardless if the impact was at 80 mph or 5. The reason is because you have a 10-12 lbs. head on top of your neck and neither are strapped in.

So your head moves like a weighted pendulum. When there is an impact your head, according to Newton’s laws of motion, will try to stay in place as your body moves with the car and then it will recoil a couple of times. This is what causes a whiplash injury. Most often this is what happens when you are rear ended or run into another car.

In this type of injury your neck (cervical spine) suffers from sprained ligaments and strained muscles. This will result in misalignments of the neck vertebrae, pain in the front or back of neck, decreased motion, headaches, inability to get comfortable, migraines and sometime insomnia.

The ligaments are there to hold the bones in place. When they are injured the muscles respond by becoming very tight in effort to hold things together. This is incredibly important because those bones are protecting your spinal cord and nerves.

If they move out of their proper alignment and stay there you could cause problems like more pain, further arthritis, shooting pain in your extremities. If you have an exam after an accident your neck should have a convex forward curve of about 40 degrees. Usually what we see in an accident is that the neck becomes almost instantly straight because of the injury and splinting muscles.

Additionally, the muscle of the neck become strained. This is just like an athlete pulling a muscle from over exertion. You might feel very sore muscles and even have very sensitive spots when you touch them. With these injured muscles you might get tired easier, easily agitated and not have the same range of motion as you normally do.

Shoulder Injury

Commonly many will complain about shoulder pain after an accident. Shoulder pain means different things to different people. Many will complain about the portion of the shoulder where the arm meets the torso. If you are the driver, you most likely will complain about your right shoulder because of its greater potential for injury as it is not strapped in. If you are a passenger, it’s the opposite shoulder. Chiropractors are very skilled at evaluating and adjusting shoulders.

Also, many will indicate that they are having pain between their shoulder blades. This common because this area is connected to the neck and shares common motion and muscles. Misalignments in the vertebra here can cause considerable discomfort with daily tasks like computer work, driving, or just sitting.

Lower Back Pain

Your lower spine is made up of 5 vertebra. The spine works together as a whole and even if you are buckled in the lower spine can become injured. Because of the force of impact your lower spine can be pushed into extension as the motion of the seat pushes your middle back against the seat belt.

Just like in the neck this region can have pain, sprained ligaments, misalignments of the vertebrae and muscular strains. This can present as pain across your belt line or even higher. A qualified chiropractor will evaluate your entire spine to ensure that you are getting the best care.

What to Expect During Your Auto Injury Chiropractic Care

  • Compassionate Care: We understand that recovering from an auto injury can be stressful. Our team is here to provide compassionate care and support you throughout your healing journey.
  • Initial Evaluation: Your journey begins with a comprehensive evaluation. We’ll discuss your accident, perform a physical examination, and may request imaging studies to assess the extent of your injuries.
  • Personalized Treatment: Based on our findings, we’ll develop a customized treatment plan. This plan may include chiropractic adjustments, therapeutic exercises, massage therapy, and other modalities as needed.
  • Ongoing Monitoring: We’ll continually monitor your progress and make adjustments to your treatment plan as necessary to ensure the best possible outcome.
  • Education: We believe in empowering our patients with knowledge. We’ll educate you about your injuries, treatment options, and strategies for preventing future issues.

Schedule Your Auto Injury Chiropractic Appointment Today

In conclusion, auto accidents are unfortunate events that can have a significant impact on both your vehicle and your health. The statistics provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) highlight the prevalence of these incidents in our daily lives. Whether an accident is minor or major, it’s imperative to understand that there are health implications associated with every collision.

The key takeaway here is that even in seemingly minor accidents, the body’s response to the forces at play means that there’s no such thing as walking away without any potential injuries. While safety measures like seat belts, functioning airbags, and properly positioned headrests are essential and should never be neglected, they are only part of the equation.

At Inner Vitality Chiropractic, we are here to help you navigate the aftermath of auto accidents and address any resulting health issues. Our compassionate and experienced team is dedicated to providing you with personalized care to aid in your recovery, no matter the extent of your injuries. Your well-being is our top priority, and we’re committed to helping you regain your inner vitality and get back to living life to the fullest.

If you’ve been involved in an auto accident, don’t hesitate to reach out to us today to schedule your chiropractic appointment. Your journey towards healing and recovery begins here.