When Should You See a Chiropractor After a Car Accident?
A car accident doesn’t just refer to a major collision. Even a minor fender bender on the way to Woolies could have left you feeling sore and stiff in random places the next day. While you may walk away thinking you’re alright after the accident, you could wake up 48 hours later with a stiff neck or an ache in your lower back that just won’t quit. Many of our patients usually report symptoms then.
Car accidents, no matter the scale, can jolt your body more than you realise. Even the smallest of niggles you feel afterwards might actually be signs of something more serious, like whiplash or spinal misalignment. If this sounds (or feels) familiar, it might be time to chat to an accident chiropractor to assess what’s going on under the surface and help you recover fully.
In this article, we’ll help you understand why issues arise even from a small accident, the common symptoms of whiplash and other injuries, why and how a chiropractor can help with your injuries and finally some advice to speed up your recovery.
Why Even a Minor Crash Can Cause Big Issues
When your car stops suddenly, your seatbelt stops your body from flying, but your body keeps moving from the sudden drop in velocity. This creates a force that puts sudden pressure on your neck, spine and joints. While the adrenaline may suppress your symptoms at the time, even small impacts can cause injuries that take days (or even weeks) to show up.
Whiplash is one of the most common post-accident injuries. It is a neck strain caused by your head being suddenly thrown forwards and then backwards, just like a whip cracking. Whiplash will not just affect your neck, it can also lead to headaches, shoulder tightness, dizziness or even blurred vision.
Some telltale symptoms may include:
Soreness in the lower back or hips
Reduced range of motion in your neck or spine
Tingling or numbness in your arms or hands
Stiffness or general discomfort that seems to be worsening
These aren’t just annoying to tolerate, these symptoms are your body’s way of signalling for help to check on something wrong. Getting it checked out early helps to prevent long-term complications, allowing your body to heal properly.
What Does a Chiropractor Do After a Car Accident?
Here at Tan Chiro, we’ve seen the effectiveness of chiropractic care on our patients that had experienced a motor vehicle accident.
We assist you in identifying misalignments, soft tissue injuries or nerve interference caused by the impact and to gently guide your body back into normality so you can go about your day without that annoying soreness.
Here’s how we support your recovery:
Spinal adjustments: Gentle, controlled techniques help realign joints that have shifted during the accident, restoring normal movement and reducing pressure on nerves.
Soft tissue therapy: Relaxes tight muscles, improves your blood circulation and reduces inflammation. This is especially useful for patients suffering from whiplash and shoulder strain.
Postural support: We will give personalised advice on how to sit, sleep or work during recovery so your spine stays supported, accelerating your recovery.
Tailored recovery plans: We understand that every body and injury is different. We will design a care plan that suits your symptoms and lifestyle.
Beyond our services, we will also work alongside other professionals (like your GP or physiotherapist) if needed to ensure the most holistic approach to help you heal best.
How Soon Should You Seek Whiplash Treatment?
Whiplash treatment should ideally be administered within a few days of the accident, even if you are not in serious pain. Some symptoms can take time to emerge and oftentimes worsen over time. Getting E=early treatment can reduce tissue inflammation, improve healing and stop minor stiffness from becoming chronic.
We have witnessed many patients claiming to “feel fine" at first, only for symptoms to show up a week later. If your body feels sore, tight or simply not quite right, seek professional advice and don’t ignore it!
What to Avoid After an Accident
While you wait for an appointment, it is crucial to keep your body in a condition that doesn’t worsen the injuries. In order to do so, avoid doing the following:
Heavy lifting: Applying excessive pressure on your muscles may strain them or even worsen the irritation in your joints.
Long periods of sitting or lying down: While it is tempting to lie in bed all day, moving your body boosts blood circulation and healing. Remember to get up gently every 30 minutes and go for a nice, relaxing stroll!
Stretching too aggressively: While staying mobile is good, intense stretches could worsen soft tissue injury. Keep your stretches light and stop if you ever feel any pain.
While it is true that these home remedies help, professional care can give your the peace of mind to ensure your recovery is safe and complete, without any hidden symptoms to the naked eye.
See also: Sciatica treatment in Brisbane
Recovery is Not Just About Feeling Better, it’s About Healing Right
Sometimes pain goes away with time, but the underlying issue may still linger on. In the event your spine is still misaligned or muscles have habitualised compensating to protect an injury, you might be more prone to future problems that could turn chronic.
Hence, our chiropractic care focuses not just on pain relief, but also on restoring proper movement and alignment. We aim to give your body long-term resilience, so you can move confidently again without wondering if your body will "twinge" unexpectedly.
When in Doubt, Get Checked Out
Car accidents are stressful enough. You shouldn’t have to gamble whether that neck ache or back tightness is something to worry about. A quick check-up with a chiropractor can give you the answer you need to sleep better at night or the support you need to feel better, faster.
If you’ve recently been in a vehicle accident and your body just doesn’t feel quite right, you might want to chat to our professionals about it. We’re here to help you recover fully, comfortably and confidently.
Book a consultation at Tan Chiro and let’s get you moving well again, because life’s too short to feel stuck in first gear!