Raleigh, NC Auto Injury & Whiplash | Ashforth Chriopractic

Getting into a car accident can be one of the scariest experiences of your life. In an instant, your life changes, and it can be difficult both physically and emotionally to get back to normal. Fortunately, the injuries sustained in most accidents can be treated conservatively, and many don’t require surgery.

Over 6 million car accidents happen each year in the US, accounting for over 3 million injuries.

Here are a few of the most common injuries that occur during a car accident:

Spinal Injuries

The abrupt movements back and forth during a car accident can result in spinal injuries like neck pain, whiplash, or back pain. An estimated 38% of people with chronic neck pain believe it began with a car accident.

Arm or Leg Injuries

Injuries to your shoulders (if you’re holding the wheel or the locking of the seatbelt) or your knees (if they hit the dashboard) are very common during a car accident.

Head Injuries

Striking your head against the steering wheel, dashboard, or window can result in an injury such as a concussion (which is considered a mild traumatic brain injury)

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“Phenomenal. Dr. Ashforth walked me through the rehabilitation process from my car accident with details on my progress. He was actually able to help a Zumba Instructor like me get back to doing the Salsa.” – Kellye J. // Raleigh, NC

Seek Medical Attention

If you’re in a car accident, regardless of whether it’s major or minor, it is important to seek medical attention. Properly documenting your cuts and scrapes, evaluating your spine, and evaluating if you’ve suffered any head injuries is nearly impossible to do without the help of a trained medical professional, so don’t put it off.

Ignoring a new ache or pain after a car accident and hoping it will go away is not smart. Even minor symptoms can be an indication of a more significant problem. Receiving a complete and thorough evaluation is critical to discovering any injuries early on so that you can receive the best care and treatment to put those injuries in the rearview mirror as quickly as possible.

Here in Raleigh, North Carolina, we as chiropractors are often the first healthcare professional the majority of people see after getting into an accident. With a focus on relieving your pain, restoring your mobility, and supporting your long-term healing. What’s more, research has shown chiropractic care to be very effective at treating injuries like head, neck, and back pain, whiplash, and extremity issues. Research shows chiropractic care can improve range of motion and decrease the pain associated with whiplash.

How we help you after an auto accident

The first step in helping you after an accident is to properly figure out what the problem is.

To do this we do the following:

We ask you detailed questions about your current complaints, and we get specific information about the accident, the position you were in at impact, where the vehicle was hit as well as the speed at the time of the collision.
Orthopedic and neurological tests are done to further understand the extent of your injury.
A Functional Movement Assessment is performed to see how your spine is moving and what areas may not be functioning properly.
If indicated we will take X-Rays of your spine to check for alignment, arthritis or other complicating factors.

Next Steps:

After we fully understand your injuries we develop a treatment plan to get you back to feeling better. Restoring normal movement patterns of the spine is critical those first few days and weeks after an accident. New research shows movement-based strategies like spinal adjustments, controlled exercise, and dynamic stretching are some of the most effective ways to recover from auto injuries.

We improve your spinal motion in several ways including:

Spinal Adjustments using the safest most advanced instruments. Chiropractic adjustments work on the specific joints of your spine that are “stuck” or restricted. This begins the process of improving your range of motion and often provides quick relief from pain.
Soft tissue mobilization to reduce muscle spasm that are restricting movement. Often we use an instrument called a percussor that creates a deep vibration to the muscle releasing adhesions and improving circulation through the muscle.
Intersegmental traction to unlock tension around the spine.
Specific exercises designed to restore normal movement patterns.
Specific stretches to reduce muscle tension in the fixated regions.
Education on proper ergonomics to ensure you don’t keep doing the same damaging things to your spine over and over.

After an accident you are in a lot of pain and don’t want to get your neck or back cracked or popped (we understand)

No worries. The technique I use to adjust the spine is gentle and requires no twisting, popping, or cracking of your neck or back.

I use an instrument called the Impulse Adjusting Instrument that is 100 times faster than a manual adjustment. The fast speed reduces the amount of force that is needed to get the spine moving correctly.

Don’t delay your healing or prolong your suffering

After an accident, you want to get your life back to normal as soon as possible. Medications will cover some of your symptoms but also delay your healing. Getting your spinal motion restored with chiropractic care, as well as getting the right exercises and stretches will put you on the right path and avoid permanent injury. We are here to help you.

“Dr. Ashforth has made such great improvements to the pain we both had in our backs from being in a car accident. You will not be disappointed!” – Christine C. // Raleigh, NC

Dealing with Insurance

The last thing you want to do is deal with insurance companies and paperwork. We have been in Raleigh, NC for 25 years helping people injured in car accidents. We work with all the auto insurance companies as well as local attorneys if needed and help you with the necessary paperwork to file your claim.

Want to schedule an appointment?

Call us at (919) 844-6560 or fill in the appointment form...