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Accident Injury If you were involved in a car accident recently, the chances are very good that you sustained enough damage to your head and neck to cause you pain and health problems now, and in the future. Whiplash is a serious injury. Research has shown that even a 5 mile per hour collision, can exert thousands of pounds of force on your head and neck. This causes measurable damage to the muscles, ligaments, discs and nerves. The maximal effect of a whiplash injury occurs in less than one-tenth of a second. The injuries happen so fast that they beat the dynamics of the muscles that would normally protect the spine. It takes the muscles approximately two-tenths of a second to react and protect the spine, When you think of injuries, you may think of high speed accidents, but experts say that whiplash happens even in low speed crashes, even when there is no little or damage to your vehicle. Current research indicates that if you were injured, whether the vehicle sustains no damage or is totaled, there is a one-in-three chance that you will have chronic, long-term pain. It doesn't matter how-much or how-little damage there is to the vehicle. Also, few people realize that an untreated neck or back injury, from a car accident, is likely to develop into arthritis in later years, adding more pain and disability. In fact, nearly 40% of whiplash victims end up with arthritis within 5 years of their injury. The risk of arthritis is increased for those involved in car accidents, even if there is no damage to their car. The force to the neck, due to a whipping action, is often up to five times greater than the force of the collision itself. The use of seatbelts can actually speed up the whipping motion of the neck, causing even more injury. Some common whiplash symptoms: c Neck pain and stiffness c Headaches c Arm and shoulder pain c Mid back and chest pain c Numbness and tingling c Low back pain c Dizziness If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, then you should see a Doctor of Chiropractic immediately. Our Doctors are highly trained in locating and treating structural damage of the musculoskeletal system that often gets overlooked after an automobile accident. |
Schedule your Free Initial Consultation, call 618-233-6824. |