We’ve done a piece on whiplash before, but this will take you beyond what you’ve already learned. Whiplash gets a reputation for being a common car accident injury caused by a rear-end collision. However, there are some misconceptions about this issue. And at Enlighten Chiropractic, we feel it’s important you know everything you can about potential problems.
It Takes Less Force Than You May Think.
As a general rule, you can experience whiplash from a low-speed car crash when both vehicles are traveling at less than 10 miles per hour. Therefore, if you and someone else are both backing up from different parking spaces, you could get into an accident that causes whiplash.
Far too often, when people visit our practice to see a chiropractor in Lakeville, MN, it’s after they’ve had whiplash for quite some time. They initially thought that the neck pain felt after a minor slow-speed accident wouldn’t have been from the accident. However, this wasn’t the case.
Symptoms Don’t Always Arise Right Away.
Some people don’t experience symptoms immediately after an accident. Although most people do experience symptoms in the first 24 hours if they have whiplash, sometimes, the symptoms won’t arise until 72 hours later. That’s why we advise you to search for a chiropractor for auto accidents in Lakeville, MN, immediately following an accident. We can evaluate you after an injury and get treatment started when it’s most effective and can ward off long-term complications.
Symptoms Can Persist for Years.
Some people heal within weeks from having whiplash. However, that’s not the case for everyone. Researchers are finding that more people have long-term complications than previously thought. For instance, one study suggested that 30 to 50 percent of people who suffer from whiplash develop long-lasting symptoms. These include issues like pain and a limited range of motion.
Your Car Could Be Fine and You Not So Much.
Oftentimes, individuals judge the severity of an automobile accident on the damage to their vehicles. But, your car could have little to no damage, and you could still have whiplash.
Chiropractic Care Can Help.
Our chiropractor in Lakeville, MN, has actually heard from patients that they didn’t think there was any help for whiplash, especially not natural pain relief. Therefore, they left their condition go until it turned into a problem that required immediate attention.
This isn’t the case, though. When you visit us, you receive care from a chiropractor for auto accidents in Lakeville, MN, who can assist through natural means, like cervical adjustment or exercise therapy.
Early Detection and Intervention Are Crucial.
We briefly mentioned this above but would like to stress it; early detection and intervention lead to the best prognosis. While we’ll usually advise you to keep moving, if you move in a fashion that stresses the neck, you could further injure it. By not taking steps to promote healing, you may not regain as much function and flexion as you possibly would with chiropractic care.
Age Affects Your Risk.
Obviously, anyone can get in a car accident at any age, and as a chiropractor for auto accidents in Lakeville, MN, we see patients of all ages. However, the ones who develop whiplash most often are older because their soft tissue weakens or shrinks over time. If you’ve had whiplash when you were younger, you may be more prone to it now.
We should note younger patients are vulnerable as well since their bodies are still growing and developing due to their size.
At Enlighten Chiropractic, our chiropractor in Lakeville, MN, will provide you with care after a whiplash injury. We’d like to stress the importance of contacting a chiropractor for auto accidents in Lakeville, MN, as soon as possible after a car accident.
Book an appointment today by calling 952-232-1935 or using our contact form.
