Neck pain is the most common symptom reported after an auto accident with around 90% of victims reporting the pain.  During the crash, your body moves with the seat but your head and neck lag behind.  This difference in motion results in injury.  The spine is vulnerable to sprain and strain from sheer forces from the head and body moving in different directions.  This sheering action can stretch or tear the ligaments, tendons and discs of your spine causing nerve impingement,  pain, swelling and scar tissue.  The neck pain can radiate into the shoulder, arm and hands.  Other related symptoms to whiplash are headaches, dizziness, numbness and tingling in the upper extremity, visual disturbances and concussion.  Research has found that up to 20% of patients can have pain even 10 years after an accident.

If you have been injured in a crash, chiropractic can help.    Research shows chiropractic is more effective in both the long and short term than medical treatment or home exercise. (Spinal manipulation, medication, or home exercise with advice for acute and subacute neck pain: a randomized trial.)   Chiropractic improves range of motion, reduces and prevents scar tissue and corrects the cause of the pain.  Medication at best temporarily covers up the symptoms but also has the risk of serious side effects.

Also the earlier chiropractic care starts can help prevent the development of chronic pain and scar tissue. (Early intervention in whiplash-associated disorders: a comparison of two treatment protocols.)  Unfortunately, many times people don’t experience pain or other symptoms immediately after the accident so they do not get checked.  Weeks, months and even years later, pain occurs and the patient has no idea it is from the past accident.  Make sure you get a thorough examination by a chiropractor that has experience working with auto injuries and whiplash.

Call our office today 732-780-0044 for more information or go to our website:  www.chiropractorfreehold.com.  Dr. Russell Brokstein is the chiropractor at Hometown Family Wellness Center located at 9 Broadway in Freehold, NJ.  He has over 14 years experience in the examination and treatment of patients involved in car accidents and whiplash injuries.