It’s always a good idea to schedule a visit to an Auto Injury Chiropractor following a car accident. Even if an accident victim has been to the emergency room and been cleared of obvious injuries like concussions and broken bones, chiropractors can catch subtle problems that would otherwise go undiagnosed. Read on to find out what to expect when undergoing chiropractic care for auto injuries.
The Initial Consultation
Before the exam, the patient will be expected to provide his or her personal and medical information. An administrative assistant should be on hand to help with filling out paperwork, but patients should expect to provide their new doctors with a basic medical history and an overview of their symptoms. Common complaints include:
- Whiplash
- Back pain
- Neck pain
- Shoulder pain
- Sprains
- Strains
- Arm and leg injuries
- Herniated discs
- Other muscle, ligament, or joint injuries
Accident victims should feel free to ask questions and request help with filling out paperwork if they need it. Chiropractors encourage their patients to play an active role in developing and following their treatment plans.
The Exam
After evaluating the patient’s medical history and current complaints, a chiropractor will perform a full physical exam. The exam will focus on testing the patient’s range of motion, muscle tone and strength, and neurological integrity.
Depending on the types of injuries sustained, the doctor may need to order X-rays, MRIs, or other types of laboratory tests. If these tests were already performed at an emergency room, clinic, or another doctor’s office, patients can bring the results for further evaluation.
Determining a Treatment Plan
The chiropractor will use all the information gathered during the exam and review of the patient’s medical history to develop a personalized treatment plan that will address the injury. Common treatment modalities for automotive injuries include:
- Soft tissue massage
- Spinal manipulations
- Chiropractic adjustments
- TENS therapy
- Physical therapy
- And others
The chiropractor may also recommend nutritional counselling, acupuncture, and other therapies that could support a faster, more successful recovery. He or she should also provide an estimate at this point of how many sessions will be required and how frequently the patient will need to come in for visits.
Ongoing Treatment
Healing from a car injury can take some time. Patients should expect to attend regular visits to their chiropractors throughout the healing process, which can last anywhere from a few weeks to several months. Regular chiropractic care helps to reduce inflammation, manage pain, and speed up the body’s natural healing times, but it won’t produce results overnight.
Patients who want to get the most out of their chiropractic treatment should follow all of their doctors’ recommendations. These recommendations often include making dietary and other lifestyle changes, such as engaging in physical therapy at home. Remember, it takes time to heal from any kind of injury.
The Bottom Line
Chiropractors utilize a variety of therapeutic modalities to promote healing in car accident victims. Since every patient is different, so is every treatment plan. What every treatment plan has in common is that its primary focus is to support healing while minimizing pain using safe and non-invasive techniques, making chiropractic care an excellent primary or complimentary therapy for anyone who has been injured in a car accident.
