You hear screaching tires and the next thing you know you hear the crash and your body is propelled forward and back. It takes a few seconds to realize you have been in an auto accident and your mind is racing. Is everyone okay? What do I do next?
Sometimes there is immediate pain but often there is no pain at all at the time of the accident. Your body is full of adrenaline and in the confusion you may not even realize you were injured. Sometimes you start getting symptoms later that day, but many times symptoms do not occur until days later.
Whiplash is a descriptive term [often called Whiplash Associated Disorder/WAD] that results when the head is suddenly force beyond its normal ranges of motion. It happens so fast it is measured in milliseconds. In a rear-end accident the car seat pushes your body forward and the unsupported head and neck are snapped back violently. The muscles in the front of the neck contract and whip the head forward. Except in more severe crashes, most of the damage is done to t e soft tissues - the muscles, ligaments, joint capsules, and discs.
It can also result in compression, stretching, or irritation to the nerve roots and blood vessels in the neck and upper back interfering with nerve transmission and blood supply to vital body functions.
The normal neck has a 'C' curve to the front and supports the head with almost no effort. In a whiplash type injury this curve is often altered and the weakened tissues are unable to support the vertebrae and head in the proper position. Patients often state their head feels heavy or they can't keep their head upright after the accident.
Research has shown that chiropractic care is very effective in treating injuries that result from auto accidents and helps to limit the long-term problems that may result from damage to the joints and soft tissues.,
Dr. Wray has 41 years of experience treating auto accident injuries with post graduate training in the diagnosis and treatment of Whiplash Associated Disorders.
If you answered yes to one or more of the above, call us today at 330.448.0111 to discuss if chiropractic may be able to help you on the road to recovery!