Experiencing pain and discomfort following a car accident isn’t unexpected. Whether it was a minor fender bender or a major accident, the sudden, jerking motions are known to damage the most sensitive tissues in your body. While you may have visited your doctor immediately after the accident, you may be dealing with more significant discomfort from soft tissue injuries that require more consistent, dedicated care.
When you’re experiencing soft tissue injuries, you may find yourself trying to tough it out instead of seeking professional support. However, if you’re looking for lasting relief from soft tissue injuries, chiropractic care is the way to go. In this blog, we’ll explore what these injuries are, how your chiropractor can help, and how long you can expect to attend appointments.
What are Soft Tissue Injuries?
Soft tissue injuries are any injuries that occur to the muscles, tendons, and ligaments in your body. These tissues play an essential role in everyday movement, and injuries can make it difficult or impossible to perform daily responsibilities. There are a few different kinds of soft tissue injuries, including:
- Contusions: When you sustain a major blow, blood vessels deep within your tissues rupture, leading to bruising and discomfort. If this injury isn’t properly treated and healed, it can lead to long-term problems.
- Strains: Experiencing sudden, unexpected movements and forces can overstretch and tear your muscles and tendons, leading to strains that can take a few weeks to several months to heal.
- Sprains: Your ligaments are essential for stabilizing your joints. When your joints are forced too far out of their standard range of motion, the surrounding ligament can tear, resulting in a sprain.
Soft tissue injuries can occur during exercise, while performing everyday activities, or in a car accident. When you’re in a car accident, there are a few different soft tissue injuries you may experience, including:
- Whiplash
- Concussion
- Joint Injuries
- Lacerations
- Back Injuries
- Tendon and Ligament Tears
If you believe you may be experiencing one or more soft tissue injuries, it is essential that you seek immediate medical attention. Proper diagnosis and treatment are crucial for preventing long-term complications and ensuring you recover properly, especially after an incident like a car accident that can result in major injuries.
How Chiropractors Can Help You Heal
When you’re dealing with soft tissue injuries, you may not know where to turn. If you’re looking for lasting relief, it may be time to consider chiropractic care. But how exactly does a chiropractor help you recover from these injuries? If it is your first time visiting a chiropractor, they will begin with a thorough physical examination.
Your chiropractor may also ask you questions about the discomfort you’re experiencing and any soft tissue injuries your doctor has recently diagnosed you with. From there, they will begin creating an appropriate treatment plan. Your treatment plan may include a variety of services, including:
- Chiropractic Adjustments: If you’re experiencing whiplash, adjustments can help alleviate pressure on the tissue in your neck.
- Soft Tissue Massage: Massage is a great way to help address any tightness accompanying your injury.
- Heat Therapy: The use of heat is essential for increasing blood flow to the injured area, speeding up the healing process.
- At-Home Exercises: In addition to in-office care, your chiropractor may provide exercises to aid recovery.
- Lifestyle Adjustments: There may be some adjustments you’ll need to make to your day-to-day life to prevent recurring injuries.
How Long Should You See a Chiropractor After an Accident?
While attending chiropractic appointments after a car accident is incredibly important, it is equally important that you attend enough of these appointments to see lasting improvement. But how many appointments are enough? The answer will vary depending on the severity of the accident and the resulting soft tissue injuries.
Some patients will benefit from visiting a chiropractor for a few weeks, while others need to continue chiropractic care for months. The best way to determine how often you should see your chiropractor is to talk to your team. After your assessment, your chiropractor will craft your personalized treatment plan.
From that point, they will continue to assess your condition to ensure you’re making adequate improvements. They’ll make small adjustments throughout your treatment to ensure you’re still progressing well and address any other injuries that may emerge during the healing process. Consistent communication with your chiropractic team will ensure you receive the most effective and appropriate care for your recovery.
Do You Really Need to See a Chiropractor After a Car Accident?
If you were recently in a minor car accident, you might consider skipping out on medical care, including chiropractic appointments. While you might initially feel fine after your accident, it is still incredibly important that you seek chiropractic care. In the days and weeks following your accident, it isn’t uncommon to develop post-accident injuries.
It isn’t uncommon to experience an adrenaline rush and increased endorphins immediately after an accident. Because of this, you may not experience any immediate aches and pains. However, as this subsides and you settle back into your routine, you may notice discomfort that wasn’t present before the accident.
Even if you feel fine initially, it is always best to schedule an appointment with a trusted chiropractor. They can perform a comprehensive examination and spot the earliest signs of soft-tissue injuries before they progress to more significant, chronic pain. While you may consider skipping it, don’t put off chiropractic care if you were in an accident.
Comprehensive Chiropractic Care in Tooele County
Whether you were in a minor accident or major collision, turn to our Muscle & Joint team for support. Unlike other chiropractors, we take the time to perform a thorough examination and discuss any discomfort you’re experiencing, so we can create the perfect treatment plan for your injuries. When you trust us, you’ll have the peace of mind that you’re working with the best chiropractic team in Tooele County.
If you would like to learn more about our services or schedule an appointment, contact us today.