Since opening my chiropractic office in Denver, Colorado I have noticed an overwhelming amount of car and auto accidents around the city. Whether the accident happened at high speeds on I-25 or simply moving 5-20 mph on a side street in Lakewood or Wheat Ridge, auto accidents put an incredible amount of stress on the body and spine creating damage to ligaments and other soft tissues. Head and neck conditions are the most common types of injuries during these accidents.
Whiplash is a general term for the action of a person’s head or neck being violently forced in one direction and then the opposite, creating a whip like motion. Most people correlate whiplash with just auto accidents but whiplash can also occur from falling, work injuries, or especially sporting activities. It is important to seek care immediately after an auto accident, fall, or sport injury because many times whiplash symptoms do not present for hours or even a few days after the incident.
Most common injuries seen with whiplash:
- Neck Pain
- Head Pain
- Neck Stiffness
- Headache, especially at the base of the skull
- Pain that travels down arms or back
- Irritability
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Vertigo
- Jaw pain
Many different injuries can occur from auto accidents, work injuries, falls, or sporting activities and it is important to have a doctor of chiropractic perform a thorough exam to ensure the health of your body and spine. At times an X-ray will be performed to ensure the integrity of the auto injury victim’s structural system. With the thorough exam and images, chiropractors can develop an effective treatment plan for the condition present. Chiropractors are specialists who can pinpoint the underlying problem creating pain and perform comfortable and skilled procedures to correct these problems.
