Whiplash — Hurt in an Accident?

As summertime comes into full swing, thoughts of beach vacations, relaxing by the pool, and time spent with family are first on everyone’s mind. While summer vacation has always been a cherished pastime for kids (and adults) alike, it also brings an invisible danger that people often fail to consider. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the summer months prove more dangerous than those in winter for car safety and frequency of auto accidents. July, August, and September have consistently held the highest rates of car accidents compared to any other months during the year. Several factors contribute to this spike in auto accidents over the summer, such as a greater number of teenage drivers on the road, drivers on vacation who are travelling and therefore unfamiliar with the area, an increase in construction and maintenance work, and tire blowouts due to overheating which can result in whiplash. If you or someone you know falls victim to this trend, the best course of action involves more than just repairing a damaged vehicle.

Whiplash

Whiplash, the most common injury resulting from a car accident, can go weeks without detection and have permanent effects on your health and well being if left untreated. “Whiplash” refers to an injury of the neck/upper back caused by a sudden, forceful movement of the head, either back-and-forth or sideways. It is characterized by an extremely rapid extension and flexion of the neck, such as the type of movement you would experience if you were involved in a fender bender. This movement can damage the supporting muscles, connective tissues, and ligaments in the surrounding areas of the injury. The effects of this injury can appear as a variety of symptoms, such as neck pain, headaches, fatigue, and upper back, shoulder, or lower back pain. As previously mentioned, these effects are often delayed and can take weeks, or even months, to fully develop. Even if you do not experience severe pain immediately after a minor accident, you may have sustained a whiplash injury. At Grieb Chiropractic Clinic, we offer a free spinal analysis to evaluate and treat whiplash symptoms, and can start you on the road to recovery back to the full enjoyment of your summer. Here’s how chiropractic can help.

During an initial spinal analysis, you will receive an evaluation of your spine as a whole, not just the afflicted area. This allows us to identify any other regions of the spine that may have been affected, and check for restricted joint motion, intervertebral disc injury, muscle spasm, and ligament injury. The primary form of chiropractic treatment for these symptoms involves spinal manipulation and adjustment, which reduces inflammation of the nervous system and realigns the spine to its correct position to prevent future injuries. This treatment can be supplemented with electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) technology to further reduce painful irritation. In addition, gentle stretching and massaging of the injured area increases its range of motion, targeting the trigger points that relieve pain in these tightened muscles. After the initial phase of treatment, continued visits to our office will ensure your full recovery and future well being. The combination of these treatments, along with rest and recurrent visits, will work to restore your full range of motion and begin a lifelong habit of spinal care and attention. In addition to a free spinal analysis, Grieb Chiropractic Clinic offers 100% reimbursement toward the treatment of injuries sustained in auto accidents, meaning you will pay nothing out of pocket to ensure your long-term health and comfort. At our office, we can help you and your loved ones recover from life’s unexpected accidents and get back to enjoying time spent together this summer. Give us a call to set up an appointment at (724)-935-6050 today!