Top 3 Reasons To See A Chiropractor After an Auto Accident

Most of us understand the importance of going to the doctor after an auto accident, especially if you have any discomfort, pain, or injuries, but did you know that even seemingly minor auto accidents can have harmful effects on the body? 40% of all spinal injuries in a given year are the result of a car accident.1 After minor accidents, it can be common not to feel pain or have pain that starts a few days after the trauma. Your health is essential, and there are several reasons to have a chiropractic evaluation after an auto crash.

1. You May Be Hurt But Feel Fine

How you feel is not the best indication of a potential injury. After minor accidents, most people will not feel much pain, or their pain may start days or even weeks later. You could have injuries where you feel no pain at all. Seeing a chiropractor early on will help identify potential problem areas before you start experiencing pain.  

Some injuries that don’t present themselves right away include: 

• Whiplash – neck injury that occurs when the head is rapidly thrust backwards and then forwards.
• Soft Tissue Injuries – injury that involves the muscles, tendons or ligaments of various areas of the body.

2. Delay in Pain or Injury

Many injury symptoms can take time to surface and frequently do not manifest until hours or days after an accident. Endorphins and adrenaline, your body’s natural “pain killers,” can be present after a car accident and disable pain due to high levels of stress.

3. One Accident = Four Collisions

Every vehicle accident has four separate collisions happening to the car and driver. 

The first collision is the car striking another car or object. Your vehicle may be pushed forward due to this force, causing the second collision, which is the seat hitting or going against your body. As your body moves forward, the third collision will be your head or body hitting the seat belt or airbag. Lastly, there is an internal collision when your organs collide with the inside of the body. All of these separate collisions may cause injury. 

We find that even in an 8 mph collision, the g-force will equal 2 g’s on the vehicle and as much as 5 g’s on the occupant’s head. The average head weighs 10 pounds, which means in this scenario, up to 50 pounds of force is acting on the head and neck. Research shows that these low-speed collisions may be more harmful to the neck than a high-speed crash. 

Common injuries may include 

• Contusions
• Sprains/strains
• Whiplash 
• Concussion
• Fracture
• Dislocation

Auto accidents, including a minor fender-bender, can have a significant impact on your health. Play it safe. Always wear your seatbelt, drive carefully, and please have a chiropractic evaluation following any motor vehicle accident. 

Sources:

1 MayoClinic.com