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Auto Accidents (MVA) and Chiropractic

Within Indiana alone in 2011, there were over 188,000 motor vehicle accidents (MVAs) resulting in injury or damage to property. [1]  As auto-accident chiropractors in Evansville, IN., the doctors at Integrated Physical Medicine see a significant number of suffering MVA patients and provide personalized treatment unique to each patient’s needs.

Most people are aware of the typical “whiplash” injury to the neck caused by an MVA but many are unaware that there are many other injuries our chiropractors treat that occur during an MVA.

  • TMJ syndrome
  • Concussion
  • Low back pain
  • Mid-back or thoracic spine pain
  • Headaches
  • Numbness and tingling in the arms and/or legs

These symptoms are often seen in patients following an MVA. Even in automobile accident cases where there is no significant new personal injury, patients may experience a relapse or exacerbation of an old condition. There are few Evansville chiropractors that have the staff and experience necessary to not only rapidly get you back to health but also properly document your case, which is critical should there be a potential for legal action.

Low-Speed Accidents Create Injuries Too!

More often than not and even at low speeds, whiplash occurs in car accident injuries. The research data clearly shows that even when there is no damage to the driver’s vehicle, and even at speeds as low as 4-MPH, the driver is more likely than not to sustain some degree of injury. [2]
The structures that support and move your body: muscles, tendons, ligaments, cartilage, and fascia, can all be injured due to the abrupt and powerful forces a car accident delivers. The spine is especially prone to injury due to the unnatural movements it experiences during an MVA. Studies have demonstrated these unnatural forces from an MVA are most likely to affect the neck, jaw, upper back, and low back.

Symptoms may not be present at first

Very frequently, patients report feeling well-enough at the scene of the accident to refuse an ambulance or other medical care. Unfortunately, 24 to 48 hours later, most of these people experience soreness, pain or worse due to the injuries received in the MVA. Sometimes, weeks or months may pass after the MVA before symptoms appear. This is why you should ALWAYS get checked by a medical or chiropractic provider who understands the necessary workup required to tease-out these hidden symptoms. At Integrated Physical Medicine, we assist just these kinds of patients!

Chiropractic care is one of the only therapies proven in clinical trials to help whiplash patients with acute pain and decrease the long-term consequences of MVA injuries.

Undiagnosed and untreated painful conditions lead to muscle guarding — a situation wherein the body attempts to protect an injured site by limiting movement there via muscle spasms. This lack of movement, left undiagnosed and untreated, leads to a loss of strength and endurance within these guarded muscles. It is this loss of fitness which is the cause of so much long-term disability and pain seen in those who have been injured in automobile accidents. The sooner you can get chiropractic care after your accident, the less likely you are to experience these long-term consequences with a side benefit of rapid and drug-free pain relief and a resumption of your normal activities. Even if it has been a while since your accident, our chiropractors can help you avoid or escape the downward spiral of chronic pain and disability.

Steps to Follow After an Automobile Accident

  1. ALWAYS file an accident report with the relevant police agency
  2. Contact your automobile insurance company or agent to report the accident and to get educated about your automobile insurance benefits
  3. Consult a chiropractor that excels at working with patients involved in MVAs
  4. Consider hiring an attorney, especially if the insurance companies or other driver are uncooperative or if your injuries will likely require ongoing care. Your chiropractor will help with this assessment.

If you’ve been involved in a car accident, you should see an experienced local chiropractor right away.

References

  1. https://www.dynamicchiropractic.com/mpacms/dc/article.php?id=37124
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