One of the most common injuries that people suffer from after an auto accident in North Huntingdon is whiplash. When a chiropractor books an appointment to see a patient after a car accident, it is often to treat the pain that results from a whiplash injury. Find out how our Irwin chiropractic office can help.
What Is Whiplash?
Whiplash is a term that is used by the medical profession to describe a neck injury that occurs as the result of a car accident. Being hit from behind or “rear-ended” is one of the most common type of auto accidents and the one most likely to produce whiplash. When you are hit from behind, the head whips back and then forward, causing the injury.
How Is It Diagnosed?
When a North Huntingson chiropractic office diagnoses a whiplash injury, your entire spine will be evaluated to ensure the only injury is in the neck. They will look for any areas that display poor range of motion, muscle spasm, general weakness, and pain. In the acute phase, you probably won’t be able to turn your head comfortably and your head may hurt. Your chiropractor will also feel around your neck and back looking for tender spots and tightness.
Chiropractic Treatment for Whiplash
When whiplash is still in the acute stage, a chiropractor may use gentle stretching, ultrasound, and other techniques in an effort to reduce inflammation. You might also be advised to apply ice in order to reduce the swelling. After the initial swelling has subsided and the pain lessens, the treatment will turn to spinal manipulation to restore the normal blood flow and motion to your neck.
No one likes the thought of getting into a car accident, but you have little control over being hit from behind when you’re driving. If you think you may have whiplash, the key is to seek attention as soon as possible. If you’re not in a medical emergency, book an appointment with our team at Kalkstein Chiropractic so we can assess the situation and get started on the appropriate chiropractic treatment.
Sadly, most people take care of their cars or other material possessions much better than they do their own Spines. The Spine is the most neglected organ in the human body and without proper care the joints of your spine will misalign and eventually decay over time. The two main promotors of this spinal decay are repetitive strains and a sedentary lifestyle (too much sitting) – Virtually nobody in today’s world can avoid these. The average American spends 13 hours sitting EACH DAY! Too much sitting without chiropractic adjustments will decay your spine like too much sugar without brushing and flossing will decay your teeth.
Neck and Back pain are serious warning signs that you NEED to have your spine checked and adjusted by a chiropractor. But did you also know that your spine plays a vital role in your overall health. Roger Sperry won the Nobel Prize for his work in brain research and he said “The more structurally distorted we are, the less energy we have for metabolism, thinking and healing.” In order words, proper posture/spinal alignment affects every function of your body.
Have your spine checked and adjusted today, for pain relief, increased range of motion and better overall health!
A case study published on July 17, 2014, in the Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health documented chiropractic care helping a 9-year-old girl who was suffering from chronic ear infections, neck pain, and headaches. Ear infections, clinically known as otitis media (OM), are an inflammation of the middle ear, and are currently the most common reasons for children under the age of 15 to visit a medical physician.
The study begins by noting that otitis media costs between 2 and 5.3 billion dollars annually in the US. The highest prevalence of cases is in children between the ages of six to fifteen months. The authors also report that “…approximately two-thirds of all children will be affected by the age of two.”
In this case, a 9-year-old girl was brought to the chiropractor with primary problems of chronic ear infections and headaches. The medical care the girl had been receiving was ineffective. The case study reported that the little girl was scheduled to have tympanostomy tubes placed in her ears in three weeks. Her problem had left her with approximately 60% hearing loss in her left ear and 30% hearing loss in her right ear.
In the four months prior to being brought to the chiropractor, the girl was treated with antibiotics for her ear infections five times. In three of those episodes, her tympanic membranes had burst. In addition to the ear problems, she was suffering from neck pain and occasional but severe headaches. Her mother had even brought her daughter to a neurologist to no avail.
It was reported that the girl’s severe headaches were interfering with her daily activity including her personal hygiene and her school work. During, and for a few days after each of her ear infections, her ability to hear was reduced to the point where she had difficulty participating in conversations.
A chiropractic examination was performed that included neck range of motion, manual and digital palpation, and a spinal postural analysis. From the examination, it was determined that the girl had subluxations in her neck and lower back, and a specific course of chiropractic adjustments was begun.
The results of the chiropractic care were immediate and profound. The study records that over the first three weeks of chiropractic care, the girl did not experience a single headache. The girl reported that her daily activities were a lot easier, especially when it came to blow-drying her hair.
After three weeks of chiropractic care, the girl was brought to an otolaryngologist for a re-evaluation where it was found that the girl’s hearing level had returned to 95% of normal. As a result of these profound improvements, the tympanostomy tubes surgery was considered unnecessary, and the procedure was cancelled. During the next 5 years of chiropractic wellness care, it was reported that the girl only experienced three headaches.
“Numerous studies have identified positive outcomes in otitis media with chiropractic care based on the detection and removal of spinal subluxations,” the authors wrote in their conclusion. “This case study demonstrated a total remission of chronic ear infections in a girl under chiropractic care.” They also commented, “The use of antibiotics and tympanostomy tubes are rendered regularly despite significant risk of serious side effects and sequelae. Complementary and alternative medicine, including chiropractic, provides a justifiable alternative care approach.