One of the most common injuries that people suffer from after an auto accident is whiplash. When a patient books an appointment to see a chiropractor after a car accident, it is often to treat the pain that results from a whiplash injury.

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 types 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 whiplash injury.

How Is Whiplash Injury Diagnosed?

When a 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 a poor range of motion, muscle spasms, 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 Atlas Total Health Chiropractic so we can assess the situation and get started on the appropriate chiropractic treatment.

At Atlas Total Health Chiropractic our team is here to help answer your questions.  Please feel free to contact us today.

A number of patients struggle with sciatica leg pain. Learn the facts about sciatica leg pain and it may help you understand your pain. The sciatic nerve is the largest and longest nerve in the human body, emerging from the spine in the lower back. It also runs through the buttock region, and all the way to the lower leg, where it functions to control the muscles in that region.

The sciatic nerve functions to provide sensation to the entire lower region of the body, including your thighs and legs, and extending to the soles of your feet. If for any reason this nerve becomes irritated or inflamed, the pain that is caused is known as sciatica. Sciatica references the numerous symptoms that are directly associated with the irritation of the sciatic nerve but do not indicate the source.

Sciatica Leg Pain Symptoms

The most common symptom of sciatic nerve irritation is when the pain flows consistently along the pathway of the nerve, especially when the pain is persistent on only one side of the body. There are considerable ways in which this pain can be experienced. Patients may experience a tingling sensation as well as aching or burning. The type of pain is often associated with the exact location of the irritation. It is possible that a patient suffering from sciatica leg pain will feel like they are being poked with pins and needles in their lower extremities, accompanied by weakness in the leg or foot of the affected nerve.

As a general rule, the sciatica leg pain develops slowly and progressively, rarely beginning with intense pain. The pain is normally exacerbated by long sitting sessions, bending, sneezing, or coughing, as well as sudden movements.

Diagnosing Sciatica Leg Pain

The diagnosis of sciatica leg pain begins with your physician. Your physician will be able to take into consideration your medical history as well as evaluate your descriptions of the pain. It will also be necessary for you to undergo a complete neurological examination that will place an emphasis on your legs and spine. This includes the assessment of your sensory strength as you perform certain activities, allowing the doctor to assess your reflexes, muscle strength, and any pain that may be caused by certain movements.

Treatment Options For Sciatica

In most cases, a conservative approach such as chiropractic care can be highly effective. Because sciatica can be caused by a number of issues, the treatments will vary based on the cause. This will depend heavily on your chiropractor. The term “conservative” in this context refers to treatments that are not invasive, which excludes surgical procedures and medication. A chiropractic approach would be focused on eliminating or minimizing the pain by addressing any spinal issues, restoring normal movement and function, subsequently reducing the irritation and inflammation.

Should you have any questions concerning sciatica leg pain, call our team at Atlas Total Health Chiropractic.

No one anticipates getting into a car accident, but almost everyone that has the misfortune to get into one will have some negative physical effect as a result. Whether it is just a minor fender bender or serious, multi-car crash, your body will absorb the force. Chiropractic for car accident pain is unique to each individual to get the maximum benefit possible.

Common Car Accident Injuries

Neck, shoulder, and back injuries are some of the most common issues chiropractors see after a car accident. Whiplash occurs when your cervical spine is abruptly “whipped” backward and then forward, knocking it out of alignment. This injury often happens as the result of a rear-end collision when the recipient doesn’t know it’s coming. Along with the whipping effect comes muscle stiffness and pain in the days and weeks after the accident. Sometimes, when a driver or passenger sees the impact coming, they will tense up their muscles in anticipation.  This can cause them to end up with strained back muscles, neck muscles, or shoulder muscles.

Chiropractic For Car Accident Pain Injuries

While your chiropractic for car accident pain treatment will be customized to match your specific injuries, some of the more common treatment methods include:

• Spinal manipulation
• Muscle stimulation and/or relaxation therapy
• Specific exercises to address the area
• Lifestyle advise addressing ergonomic issues that cause pain

Every chiropractic for car accident pain treatment will include a thorough consultation to determine the main issues and the best course of action to find a solution. Since everyone’s body is different, and every car accident is different, the treatment must be customized to the individual to achieve lasting results.

Addressing the Cause

Although the specific chiropractic for car accident pain treatment protocols will vary, the overriding concept of addressing the cause first remains the same. Typically, when someone is experiencing pain as the result of a car accident, the idea is to mask the pain with pain medication. While this may provide immediate pain relief, the problem that is causing the pain is probably still there.

Our chiropractor will investigate and get to the underlying cause of the pain. Contact our team today with any questions that you have.  Atlas Total Health Chiropractic looks forward to hearing from you.

Are you trying to find car accident tips? Car accidents in Tennessee, US are an unfortunate part of life that a lot of folks need to experience, and while the overwhelming majority aren't serious, they will still cause lasting effects. Back pain, neck pain, and shoulder pain can linger and transform into chronic conditions that last for years.

Follow these car accident tips from a chiropractor to attenuate the consequences.

Prevention Is the Best Medicine

Naturally, avoiding car accidents altogether is one of the simplest car accident tips to make sure you remain injury-free. Not all car accidents are often avoided, but you'll take measures to scale back the likelihood. Avoiding the distraction of cell phones is perhaps the foremost practical piece of recommendation. Put it down and leave it out of sight while you’re driving, keeping both hands on the wheel.

It’s also a nasty idea to drive once you are tired, upset, or angry. Experiencing strong emotions or struggling to remain awake while operating an automobile is merely posing for trouble. If you reside in a neighborhood that sees a good range of weather, drive consistent with the conditions and stay a couple of miles below the regulation when possible. Take the time to stay your brakes and tires in good working order.

A Healthy Body Heals Faster

Keeping your body in good fitness is another car accident tip that's worth following. If you maintain an honest fitness level, and your body is robust and versatile, you’ll have a way easier time recovering from most car accidents. That’s to not say you ought to anticipate being during a car accident, but alongside its many other benefits, a healthy body also will help during this department. Any sort of regular exercise that helps strengthen your muscles and improves flexibility is great.

Get Verified Quickly

Whether you're in great shape, unfit, or somewhere in between, it’s important to urge your injuries verified as soon as possible after a car accident. If you wait, connective tissue can become a permanent part of your muscles and tendons, reducing your range of motion and causing pain. If you don’t feel that your injuries warrant a visit to the ER, book a meeting with Atlas Total Health Chiropractic to make sure you don’t have injuries that will become chronic conditions within the future.

Ask Our Experts For More Car Accident Tips

At Atlas Total Health Chiropractic our team is here to help answer your questions.  Please feel free to contact us today.