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Rear End Collision Injuries: El Paso Back Clinic

Rear End Collision Injuries: El Paso Back Clinic

The NHTSA records show that rear-end collisions are the most common and make up 30% of all traffic accidents, crashes, and collisions. Rear-end collisions can come out of nowhere. One moment a driver is waiting at a stop or light, and suddenly they are catapulted forward by the intense force of another vehicle/s resulting in serious and sustaining injuries that can impact an individual’s physical capabilities. Rear-end collision injuries most commonly affect the neck and back. This is because of the excessive force and intense shifting and whipping the body goes through. Chiropractic care, massage, and decompression therapy can realign the body, relax the muscles, release compressed nerves, expedite recovery, and restore mobility and function.

Rear End Collision Injuries: EP's Chiropractic Team

Rear-End Collision Injuries

Rear-end collision injuries can range from mild to serious, and what seems like a minor pull can result in a severe injury. The most common injuries include:

  • Contusions
  • Neck and spinal injuries
  • Whiplash
  • Concussion
  • Traumatic brain and other head injuries.
  • Facial injuries
  • Dental injuries
  • Lacerations
  • Broken bones
  • Crushed or fractured ribs
  • Punctured lungs
  • Internal bleeding
  • Paralysis
  • Pre-existing conditions such as degenerative disc disease can worsen.

Collision Types

A rear-end collision can occur in several ways. The most common types include:

Tailgating

  • When drivers in the rear follow another motorist too closely, and the lead motorist slows down or has to stop quickly, the rear driver hits the vehicle because there was not enough adequate time and distance to stop.

Slow Speed Collisions

  • Slow-speed/low-impact collisions or fender benders can result in spinal injuries and concussions.
  • They can also lead to facial and head injuries from sudden airbag deployment.

Vehicle Pile-Ups

  • A single rear-end collision on a busy street or interstate highway can cause a chain reaction of multiple-vehicle collisions.
  • These accidents can cause devastating injuries.

Causes

Causes that can take attention away from the road include:

  • Speeding
  • Distracted driving – Talking or texting.
  • Tailgating
  • Looking at something like an accident while driving by.
  • Unsafe lane changes
  • Drowsy or fatigued driving
  • Construction site hazards
  • Poor weather conditions
  • Parking lot accidents

Chiropractic Care

Symptoms of rear-end collision injuries may not immediately present following an accident. It can take 24 to 48 hours for discomfort symptoms to come on and sometimes longer. The adrenaline rush allows the individual not to experience the physical symptoms, which is why individuals think they’re fine when they are not.  Ignoring signs increases the risk of permanent injury. A herniated disc, for example, left untreated, can lead to permanent nerve damage. Chiropractic treatment for rear-end collisions is one of the most effective options available. A chiropractor manipulates the spine to realign the spinal cord, allowing the body to decrease inflammatory cytokine production, which reduces the inflammatory response. Specific techniques and various tools can realign individual vertebrae, restore joint flexibility, and break up the scar tissue so the areas can heal faster.


The Spine In A Rear-End Auto Accident


References

Chen, Feng, et al. “Investigation on the Injury Severity of Drivers in Rear-End Collisions Between Cars Using a Random Parameters Bivariate Ordered Probit Model.” International journal of environmental research and public health vol. 16,14 2632. 23 Jul. 2019, doi:10.3390/ijerph16142632

Davis, C G. “Rear-end impacts: vehicle and occupant response.” Journal of manipulative and physiological therapeutics vol. 21,9 (1998): 629-39.

Dies, Stephen, and J Walter Strapp. “Chiropractic treatment of patients in motor vehicle accidents: a statistical analysis.” The Journal of the Canadian Chiropractic Association vol. 36,3 (1992): 139–145.

Garmoe, W. “Rear-end collisions.” Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation vol. 79,8 (1998): 1024-5. doi:10.1016/s0003-9993(98)90106-x

Cue Sports Injuries: El Paso Back Clinic

Cue Sports Injuries: El Paso Back Clinic

Cue sports use a cue stick to strike billiard balls off and around a pool or equivalent table. The most common game is pool. Although these are not contact sports, various musculoskeletal injuries can manifest. Therefore, it is recommended to know the common injuries so that they can be self-treated or treatment can be sought before the condition worsens. Injury Medical Chiropractic and Functional Medicine Clinic can relieve symptoms, rehabilitate the body, and restore mobility and function.

Cue Sports Injuries: EP's Chiropractic Functional Wellness Team

Cue Sports Injuries

Sports medicine doctors say cue sports players suffer from sprains, strains, and fractures, among other injuries. Cue sports players are constantly:

  • Bending
  • Reaching
  • Twisting
  • Stretching their arms
  • Using their hands and wrists

Performing these constant movements and motions for extended periods increases the risk of sustaining injuries. Common symptoms include:

  • Inflammation
  • Warmth or heat in affected areas
  • Swelling
  • Tightness in the affected areas
  • Pain
  • Decreased range of motion

Injuries

Back and Waist

The posturing can cause individuals to tense their muscles, increasing the likelihood of injury. With all the bending, waist and back injuries are common. Back issues include:

  • Pinched nerves
  • Sciatica
  • Sprains
  • Strains
  • Herniated discs

Individuals with existing spine conditions or osteoarthritis have an increased risk of injury.

Shoulder, Arm, Wrist, Hand, and Finger

  • The shoulders, hands, wrists, and fingers are in constant use.
  • This can lead to overuse injuries affecting the muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves, and bones.
  • Consistent stress can lead to sprains, strains, or bursitis.

Tendonitis

  • Tendonitis occurs when too much pressure is applied, causing tendons to inflame.
  • This could lead to swelling and pain and could lead to long-term damage.

Foot and Ankle

  • The feet can slip when stretching too far while setting up and taking a shot.
  • This injury usually happens when trying to balance on one foot.
  • Slipping can lead to a sprained ankle or something worse, like a torn ligament or fractured foot.

Chiropractic Care

Chiropractic adjustments combined with massage therapy and functional medicine can treat these injuries and conditions, relieving symptoms and restoring mobility and function. When the tendons, muscles, ligaments, and bones are properly aligned, recovery and rehabilitation progress faster. A chiropractor will also recommend stretching and exercise programs to help maintain the adjustments and prevent injuries.


Physical Therapy and Exercises


References

Garner, Michael J et al. “Chiropractic care of musculoskeletal disorders in a unique population within Canadian community health centers.” Journal of manipulative and physiological therapeutics vol. 30,3 (2007): 165-70. doi:10.1016/j.jmpt.2007.01.009

Hestbaek, Lise, and Mette Jensen Stochkendahl. “The evidence base for chiropractic treatment of musculoskeletal conditions in children and adolescents: The emperor’s new suit?.” Chiropractic & osteopathy vol. 18 15. 2 Jun. 2010, doi:10.1186/1746-1340-18-15

Orloff, A S, and D Resnick. “Fatigue fracture of the distal part of the radius in a pool player.” Injury vol. 17,6 (1986): 418-9. doi:10.1016/0020-1383(86)90088-4

Agility Enhancement: El Paso Back Clinic

Agility Enhancement: El Paso Back Clinic

Agility is the ability to accelerate, decelerate, stabilize, and quickly change directions with proper form and posture. Everyone, athletes and non-athletes, use agility every day. This can be maneuvering around objects during a jog, shifting movements or positions when walking through a crowd, reaching toward the highest shelf, or carrying things upstairs. These controlled reactions require a balance of coordination, speed, stamina, and strength. Injury Medical Chiropractic and Functional Medicine Clinic can provide agility enhancement through adjustments, massage, and decompression to relax the body, strengthen the muscles, and improve circulation and nerve function.

Agility Enhancement: EP's Chiropractic Functional TeamAgility Enhancement

Individuals need skill and control to react to a stimulus or movement. Agility requires muscular coordination, efficiency, and cohesiveness between the upper and lower body. Agility and reaction time are two components of neuromusculoskeletal health that work together. Agility enhancement can improve cognitive ability, power production, and physical performance. Agility enhancement improves overall physical skills, including:

  • Balance
  • Stability
  • Coordination
  • Body Control
  • Cognition
  • Recovery time

Chiropractic Care

Chiropractic improves agility neurologically through improved circulation and energy flow in the nervous system.

Injury Treatment and Prevention

Agility enhancement can help with injury prevention, as agility training increases control, balance, and flexibility. It teaches the correct body placement while moving to protect the knees, shoulders, and lower back. It also helps to strengthen the muscles and improve the resiliency of the connective tissue allowing them to shorten and lengthen rapidly. This helps prevent injuries and relieves pain and stiffness associated with muscle overuse.

  • Stiffness often occurs from the overuse of muscles.
  • Stiffness reduces flexibility, increasing the risk of injury and affecting movement and physical capabilities.
  • Stiffness can even occur from changes in everyday routines.
  • Chiropractic prevents the muscles from tensing up, reducing stiffness and increasing your range of motion.
  • Chiropractic helps strengthen the musculoskeletal system, which makes it easier to maintain normal balance.
  • Chiropractic can strengthen the muscles by making the muscle fibers more excitable, contributing to quicker reaction time.

We create rehabilitation and strength and conditioning treatment plans that are individualized for each individual. This program entails the following:

  • Chiropractic assessment.
  • Therapeutic massage.
  • Rehabilitation exercises.
  • Strengthening of the whole body.
  • Posture, mobility, and performance education for improved movement.
  • Health and nutritional recommendations.

Our treatment programs are designed to improve each individual’s whole body health and decrease the risk of injury.


Improve Balance And Agility


References

Ali, Kamran, et al. “Comparison of Complex Versus Contrast Training on Steroid Hormones and Sports Performance in Male Soccer Players.” Journal of chiropractic medicine vol. 18,2 (2019): 131-138. doi:10.1016/j.jcm.2018.12.001

Järvinen, Tero A H, et al. “Muscle injuries: optimizing recovery.” Best practice & research. Clinical rheumatology vol. 21,2 (2007): 317-31. doi:10.1016/j.berh.2006.12.004

Lennemann, Lynette M et al. “The influence of agility training on physiological and cognitive performance.” Journal of strength and conditioning research vol. 27,12 (2013): 3300-9. doi:10.1519/JSC.0b013e31828ddf06

Miners, Andrew L. “Chiropractic treatment and the enhancement of sports performance: a narrative literature review.” The Journal of the Canadian Chiropractic Association vol. 54,4 (2010): 210-21.

Pulled Back Muscles: El Paso Back Clinic

Pulled Back Muscles: El Paso Back Clinic

Back discomfort sensations and symptoms could indicate pulled-back muscles. Unless you’ve experienced the condition before, determining the cause can be difficult. A pulled-back muscle can start as a sudden, sharp sting when bending, reaching, or twisting. Or it can present gradually, worsening over a few days. It is a common injury, but if left untreated could take several weeks, and in severe cases, a few months, to heal correctly. Injury Medical Chiropractic and Functional Medicine Clinic can help diagnose the problem and develop a customized treatment plan to restore optimal function and health.

Pulled Back Muscles: EP's Chiropractic Team

Pulled Back Muscles

A pulled muscle describes a strained muscle.

  • A strain is a muscle or tendon injury that happens when the tissue overstretches or tears.
  • When a ligament stretches or tears, it’s called a sprain.
  • Most cases can be managed and treated at home.
  • But if the symptoms are not improving or make it difficult to move, see a doctor or chiropractor.

Symptoms

Common signs and symptoms of a pulled-back muscle include:

  • Swelling
  • Tenderness
  • Soreness – Sore muscles that feel tight and achy usually indicate a condition that is likely to improve in a few days. More severe soreness could indicate a more significant injury.
  • Spasms – A sudden convulsive spasm in the muscle can also indicate a pull. This can feel like a sudden tightening that does not release. The muscle can continue to spasm and lead to other symptoms.
  • Cramping – A muscle can cramp can lead to increased tightness whenever trying to use the muscle.
  • Pain – Can be characterized as a constant dullness and/or soreness in most situations or, in severe cases, sharp and shooting.
  • Discomfort when moving around. If pain flares up when trying to move or use the back muscles is usually an indication that something is wrong.
  • Relief during inactivity and rest. When lying down to rest or taking a temporary break, and the symptoms disappear could also be an indication of a pulled-back muscle or another injury.

Causes

The most common causes are:

A Strained Muscle

  • This causes some damage to a region of muscle tissue, usually the result of being over-used or torn from another injury.

Sprained Ligaments

  • Involves damage to the ligaments in a joint, usually those in the spinal vertebrae.

A Herniated Disc

  • This involves damage to the discs that can leak out, irritating the surrounding tissues and nerves and can cause shifting and misalignment of the spine.

These conditions are distinct, but the symptoms can be similar.

Therapies

It is important to consult a medical professional before treating an injury because symptoms of other injuries, such as disc problems or a broken bone, can resemble strains and sprains. Most treatments will utilize:

Ice and Heat

  • Ice helps reduce inflammation.
  • The faster ice can be applied to a pulled-back muscle, the quicker pain and swelling are reduced, and the healing process can begin.
  • Apply a cold pack for 15-20 minutes as soon as the injury occurs.
  • Take a 20-minute break between each cold application.
  • After the first days, alternate cold therapy with heat to increase circulation.
  • Try a 20-20-20 rule: 20 minutes of an ice pack followed by a 20-minute break, then 20 minutes of heat.
  • Repeat as necessary, allowing 20 minutes between heat or ice therapy.

Limited Rest

  • Right after a muscle strain, limiting physical activity levels and avoiding movements are recommended for a short period.
  • After the initial pain subsides, partial activity levels are recommended to help prevent the muscles from weakening.

Compression

Stretching

  • Returning to activities, gentle stretching exercises can improve tissue healing by increasing blood circulation to the injured area.
  • Applying heat to the area before stretching can also help.

Strength Training

  • Ask a doctor or chiropractor about the right strength exercises for your condition.
  • Strength training will develop the muscles to prevent future injuries.

Pain Medication

  • Pain levels are an important indicator during the recovery process.
  • Pain medications relieve symptoms but do not assist with healing and should only be used short-term to provide relief.
  • If you need pain medication, consult your physician to determine the appropriate type and dosage for your situation.

Massage

  • Blood circulation to the injured tissues is increased with massage therapy.

Chiropractic

  • A chiropractor can diagnose back pain from a muscle or disc injury and develop an individualized treatment plan.

Chiropractic Therapy


References

https://www.aans.org/Patients/Neurosurgical-Conditions-and-Treatments/Low-Back-Strain-and-Sprain

Allen, Laura. “Case Study: The Use of Massage Therapy to Relieve Chronic Low-Back Pain.” International journal of therapeutic massage & bodywork vol. 9,3 27-30. 9 Sep. 2016, doi:10.3822/ijtmb.v9i3.267

Kumar, Saravana et al. “The effectiveness of massage therapy for the treatment of nonspecific low back pain: a systematic review of systematic reviews.” International journal of general medicine vol. 6 733-41. 4 Sep. 2013, doi:10.2147/IJGM.S50243

https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/injuries-poisoning/sprains-and-other-soft-tissue-injuries/overview-of-sprains-and-other-soft-tissue-injuries

https://www.spine-health.com/conditions/lower-back-pain/exercises-lower-back-muscle-strain

Ladder Falls and Injuries: El Paso Back Clinic

Ladder Falls and Injuries: El Paso Back Clinic

The ladder is one of the most utilized tools. Most individuals have a ladder or two in their homes or at work and never consider the dangers. Falling off a ladder can lead to serious injuries like muscle tears, broken bones, damage to the spinal cord, skull fractures, or traumatic brain injury. The objective is to educate homeowners and workers on being more alert, increasing awareness, and reinforcing safety protocols.Ladder Falls and Injuries: Injury Medical Chiropractic Team

Ladder Falls and Injuries

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, ladder falls account for more than 500,000 injuries and 300 deaths annually. Even professionals with experience in safety can make simple mistakes like carrying too heavy a load or not spotting signs of wearing or a defect that leads to injury.

Causes

Causes can arise from defects or user mistakes. These include:

A Defective Ladder

  • Old worn-out
  • Damaged or broken
  • Loose or cracking rungs
  • Ladders folding during use
  • Using the improper type of ladder for the job or task

Incorrect Ladder Use

  • Carrying dangerous objects or heavy loads
  • Stretching or reaching too far out
  • Failing to secure the ladder properly
  • Recklessness or horseplay

Injuries

Common falls can cause injuries severe enough to require professional medical care. Around one in five falls, on average, cause serious injuries that include.

  • Muscle sprains and/or tears
  • Neck and back injuries
  • Herniated discs
  • Hip injuries and fractures
  • Broken bones
  • Spinal cord injuries
  • Skull fractures
  • Traumatic brain injuries

Any of these injuries could cause permanent disabilities or chronic conditions.

Chiropractic Care

A fall can damage joints, muscles, bones, and ligaments without realizing there is a problem or injury. The back and spine are most likely to be affected. When landing flat on your back, the joints that connect the spinal column can slip, causing inflammation and joint swelling. To prevent chronic pain and alleviate acute pain, seeking medical attention and chiropractic care as soon as possible is recommended. After confirming the spine is not fractured or broken, a chiropractor can bring relief and restore mobility and function. Injury Medical Chiropractic and Functional Medicine Clinic are committed to helping individuals rehabilitate and recover from injuries. We develop a personalized plan to maximize the potential of recovering and returning to daily activities as soon as possible.


Safer In Seconds


References

Cabilan, C J et al. “Impact of ladder-related falls on the emergency department and recommendations for ladder safety.” Emergency medicine Australasia: EMA vol. 30,1 (2018): 95-102. doi:10.1111/1742-6723.12854

Hicks, Cameron, et al. “Ladder Use in Older People: Type, Frequency, Tasks, and Predictors of Risk Behaviours.” International journal of environmental research and public health vol. 18,18 9799. 17 Sep. 2021, doi:10.3390/ijerph18189799

“Ladder falls.” Health news (Waltham, Mass.) vol. 4,2 (1998): 7.

Muir, L, and S Kanwar. “Ladder injuries.” Injury vol. 24,7 (1993): 485-7. doi:10.1016/0020-1383(93)90156-z

Partridge, R A et al. “Causes and patterns of injury from ladder falls.” Academic emergency medicine: official journal of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine vol. 5,1 (1998): 31-4. doi:10.1111/j.1553-2712.1998.tb02571.x

WAD Whiplash Associated Disorders: El Paso Back Clinic

WAD Whiplash Associated Disorders: El Paso Back Clinic

Whiplash-associated disorders, or WAD, describe injuries sustained from sudden acceleration/deceleration movements. It is a common outcome after a motor vehicle collision but can also be caused by sports injuries, falls, or assaults. Whiplash refers to the mechanism of the injury, while WAD refers to the presence of symptoms like pain, stiffness, muscle spasm, and headaches. A WAD prognosis is unpredictable, with some cases remaining acute with a full recovery, while others progress to chronic conditions with long-term symptoms and disability. Early intervention recommendations include rest, chiropractic care and physical rehabilitation, massaging and stretching exercises, and an anti-inflammatory diet.WAD Whiplash Associated Disorders: Injury Medical Chiropractic

Whiplash Associated Disorders

Cervical hyperextension injuries happen to drivers and passengers of moving, slow-moving (less than 14 miles per hour), and stationary vehicles when struck from behind.

  • The individual’s body is thrown forward, but the head does not follow the body and instead whips forward, resulting in hyperflexion or extreme forward movement of the neck.
  • The chin limits forward flexion, but the momentum can be sufficient to cause cervical distraction and neurological injuries.
  • When the head and neck have reached maximum flexion, the neck snaps back, resulting in hyperextension or extreme backward movement of the neck.

Pathology

Most WADs are considered soft tissue-based injuries with no fractures.

Stages

The injury goes through stages:

Stage 1

  • The upper and lower spine experiences flexion in stage one.

Stage 2

  • The spine takes on an S-shape while extending and eventually straightens, causing lordosis.

Stage 3

  • The entire spine is hyperextending with an intense force that causes the facet joint capsules to compress.

Symptoms

Whiplash-associated disorders can be classified through grades by the severity of symptoms, including neck pain, stiffness, occipital headache, cervical, thoracic, and lumbar back pain, upper-limb pain, and paraesthesia.

Grade 0

  • No complaints or physical symptoms.

Grade 1

  • Neck complaints but no physical symptoms.

Grade 2

  • Neck complaints and musculoskeletal symptoms.

Grade 3

  • Neck complaints and neurological symptoms.

Grade 4

  • Neck complaints and fracture and/or dislocation.
  • Most cervical fractures occur predominantly at C2 or C6, or C7.
  • Most fatal cervical spine injuries occur at the craniocervical junction C1 or C2.

Affected Spinal Structures

Some symptoms are thought to be caused by injury to the following structures:

Causes of pain can be from any of these tissues, with the strain of the injury causing secondary edema, hemorrhage, and inflammation.

Joints

  • Zygapophyseal joints
  • Atlanto-axial joint
  • Atlanto-occipital joint
  • Intervertebral discs
  • Cartilaginous endplates

Adjacent Joints

Spinal Muscles

Ligaments

  • Alar ligament
  • Anterior atlanto-axial ligament
  • Anterior atlanto-occipital ligament
  • Apical ligament
  • Anterior longitudinal ligament
  • Transverse ligament of the atlas

Bones

  • Atlas
  • Axis
  • Vertebrae C3-C7

Nervous Systems Structures

  • Nerve roots
  • Spinal cord
  • Brain
  • Sympathetic nervous system

Vascular System Structures

  • Internal carotid artery
  • Vertebral artery

Peripheral Vestibular System

Chiropractic Care

A chiropractor will identify areas of restricted joint motion, muscle tension, muscle spasm, intervertebral disc injury, and ligament injury.

  • They will analyze posture, and spinal alignment, check for tenderness, tightness, and how well the spinal joints move.
  • This will allow the chiropractic physical therapy team to understand the injured body mechanics and how the spine is operating to make a thorough diagnosis.
  • The doctor will order imaging tests like an x-ray or an MRI to evaluate any degenerative changes that may have existed before the whiplash injury.
  • Once the injury has been accurately diagnosed, the chiropractor will design a personalized treatment plan.

Spinal Adjustments

  • Spinal manipulation is applied to areas of the spine that are out of alignment to realign the spine and activate the healing process.
  • Flexion-distraction technique is a gentle technique that uses slower, less intense pushing motions on the discs used to treat disc herniations that often occur after a whiplash injury.
  • Instrument-assisted manipulation utilizes special instruments to apply various forces or massage settings to the area.
  • Targeted spinal manipulation targets specific areas to rework, release, and rebuild the structures.
  • Massage Therapy stimulates the affected muscles to relax them from their tense state.
  • A treatment plan may utilize:
  • Instrument-assisted therapy
  • Trigger point therapy
  • Resistance-based stretches to rehabilitate soft tissue damage.

Our chiropractic team is ready to help you feel your best so you can return to normal activities and get on with your life.


Automobile Injuries and Chiropractic


References

Pastakia, Khushnum, and Saravana Kumar. “Acute whiplash associated disorders (WAD).” Open access emergency medicine: OAEM vol. 3 29-32. 27 Apr. 2011, doi:10.2147/OAEM.S17853

Ritchie, C., Ehrlich, C. & Sterling, M. Living with ongoing whiplash-associated disorders: a qualitative study of individual perceptions and experiences. BMC Musculoskelet Disord 18, 531 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-017-1882-9

https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/whiplash-associated-disorder

Sterling, Michele. “Whiplash-associated disorder: musculoskeletal pain and related clinical findings.” The Journal of manual & manipulative therapy vol. 19,4 (2011): 194-200. doi:10.1179/106698111X13129729551949

Wong, Jessica J et al. “Are manual therapies, passive physical modalities, or acupuncture effective for the management of patients with whiplash-associated disorders or neck pain and associated disorders? An update of the Bone and Joint Decade Task Force on Neck Pain and Its Associated Disorders by the OPTIMa collaboration.” The spine journal: official Journal of the North American Spine Society vol. 16,12 (2016): 1598-1630. doi:10.1016/j.spinee.2015.08.024

Woodward, M N et al. “Chiropractic treatment of chronic ‘whiplash’ injuries.” Injury vol. 27,9 (1996): 643-5. doi:10.1016/s0020-1383(96)00096-4

Back Injuries From Vehicle Collisions Chiropractic Back Clinic

Back Injuries From Vehicle Collisions Chiropractic Back Clinic

Back injuries from vehicle collisions vary from person to person. Common injuries may include strains, sprains, herniated discs, and fractures, and individuals dealing with certain spinal conditions like spinal stenosis may cause the medical condition to accelerate. Still, the force and physical impact the body absorbs during a crash, no matter how minor the accident or how safe the car is, will cause bodily aches and pains with the potential for other spinal conditions. Chiropractic care, massage, decompression, and traction therapy can relieve symptoms and restore mobility and function.

Back Injuries From Vehicle Collisions Chiropractor

Back Injuries From Vehicle Collisions

Depending on how the impact affects the spine, problems can present in various areas of the back. The violent motion can sprain, strain, and fracture spinal components. Even minor incidents can impact mobility. Symptoms can stem from inflammation, compressed nerves, or fractures. Any damage can have long-lasting effects on the vertebrae, nerve roots, and back muscles. A vehicle collision can affect the following:

  • Lumbar vertebrae – lower back
  • Thoracic vertebrae – middle/upper back
  • Cervical vertebrae – neck

Each area consists of bones, tissues, muscles, nerves, tendons, and ligaments extending from the neck to the pelvis.

  • The most common back injuries are to the neck and lower back, where the most movement and shifting occurs, often causing nerve damage.
  • The central placement and rigid structure make middle back injuries less common.
  • Upper back injuries that connect the rib and chest region can affect breathing.
  • Soft tissue injuries might not show up immediately.

Symptoms

After a vehicle collision, it’s common to feel sore all over. The symptoms can range from manageable discomfort to complete immobility. Individuals may experience the following:

Muscle spasms

  • The muscle may repeatedly twitch, feel like hard knots, and feel tender to the touch.
  • Muscle spasms can vary in pain levels from mild to debilitating.

Stiffness

  • Individuals may not feel as flexible because of the muscle tension that activated during the crash to protect the body.
  • Stiffness can go away after light stretching or continue throughout the day.

Burning or Shooting Pain

  • A burning or shooting pain may travel down the back and buttocks through the back of one or both legs.
  • It can be mild, dull aches and pains that go away quickly or last for days.
  • Changing positions, such as sitting up after waking up or standing up after sitting, can cause sharp acute pain.
  • Facet disease may cause neck or shoulder pain.

Discomfort When Walking or Standing

  • Certain physical activities can cause a throbbing sensation or mild pain when attempting to perform various tasks.

Tingling and/or Numbness

  • Tense muscles can pinch nerves leading to sensations of tingling or numbness in the legs, feet, arms, or hands.

Head Issues

  • Headaches, dizziness, or disorientation can present.

Spinal Disorders

Back injuries from vehicle collisions can result in a degenerative disc disorder months or years later. It can also speed up health issues individuals didn’t know they had before the crash. As the body ages, previous damage combined with degeneration can result in:

  • Pinched nerves
  • Sciatica
  • Bulging discs
  • Herniated discs
  • Spinal stenosis
  • Degenerative disc disease
  • Foraminal stenosis
  • Spondylolisthesis
  • Spinal osteoarthritis
  • Bone spurs
  • Degenerative scoliosis

Discogenic pain

  • Damage to spinal discs causes discogenic pain, often sharp impulses or shooting sensations.
  • Individuals can experience symptoms in different ways:
  • Some individuals feel better when standing, sitting, or lying down, while the positions or motions worsen the symptoms for others.

Chiropractic Care and Therapies

Chiropractic treatment can rule out critical issues and expedite recovery time. Benefits include:

Pain Symptom Relief

  • Chiropractic relieves pain in the affected areas and throughout the body.
  • Massaging and decompression release endorphins.

Inflammation Alleviation

  • Micro-tears within the muscles and ligaments are common and cannot be found through a standard x-ray.
  • Spinal adjustments can bring the spine back into alignment, producing natural anti-inflammatory properties to assist with discomfort and heal the tears.

Scar Tissue Breakdown

  • Muscles can get scarred, causing stiffness and soreness.
  • Chiropractic massage targets these areas and breaks down the build-up quicker than if it was left to heal on its own.
  • Less scar tissue means faster recovery.

Range of Motion and Mobility Restored

  • Back injuries can result in restricted mobility.
  • It may be difficult to turn or move when the muscles are inflamed.
  • Mobilizing the spine through adjustments restores the proper range of motion.

Decreased Medication Use

  • Prescription pain medications can turn into dependency.
  • Chiropractic adjustments can ensure that the injury is healed and the pain is not just masked.

Long-Term Benefits

  • Receiving chiropractic care can help prevent minor injuries from worsening into serious and chronic conditions.

Post Whiplash Symptoms


References

Erbulut, Deniz U. “Biomechanics of neck injuries resulting from rear-end vehicle collisions.” Turkish neurosurgery vol. 24,4 (2014): 466-70. doi:10.5137/1019-5149.JTN.9218-13.1

National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center. (2020) “Spinal Cord Injury: Facts and Figures at a Glance.” https://www.nspine injurysc.uab.edu/Public/Facts%20and%20Figures%202020.pdf

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