What Will a Chiropractor Do If You Visit After an Auto Accident?
After an auto accident, you should always go to the emergency room or urgent care center and get cleared of all serious injuries. Once you know you don't have any broken bones or other serious ailments, it's time to make an appointment with the chiropractor. They can administer a few functional treatments that will help prevent soreness and also address more minor ailments, such as strained muscles and whiplash. What will this treatment entail? Take a look.
A Spinal Adjustment
The force of a car crash from any direction can really put your spine out of alignment. You may not feel it right away, but some misaligned vertebrae can place pressure on certain muscles in your back and neck, leading to back pain, neck pain, and even headaches later on. Your chiropractor can adjust your spine shortly after the accident before your muscles have a chance to tighten and make matters worse. In some cases, this early adjustment may even keep you from developing the symptoms of whiplash. If you've never been to the chiropractor before, don't worry — an adjustment is not painful, and many patients actually find that it feels good.
Red Light Therapy
If you have any areas that are explicitly sore, your chiropractor may shine a special red light on them. The wavelength of the red light helps stimulate blood flow to the area, which can alleviate inflammation and speed healing. You will feel nothing more than a warm, soothing sensation during the treatment. Red light therapy can be performed basically anywhere you feel pain.
Hot or Cold Therapy
Another remedy your chiropractor may use on sore areas is hot or cold therapy. They may first apply a warming pad to stimulate circulation to the area and help drain away some of the toxins. Then, they'll apply a cold pack to reduce inflammation and ease the pain. They can also give you instructions for repeating this treatment at home.
Stretches
Your chiropractor will probably show you some stretches to target the areas that are most sore and tight after the accident. Performing these stretches as prescribed can help keep you from getting too stiff and uncomfortable, and it can prevent minor soreness from really worsening the next day.
It's a good idea to see a chiropractor after a car accident. They can perform auto accident chiropractor treatments that can help relieve your pain. To learn more, visit a chiropractor near you.
Share