Auto Accidents

Even a seemingly minor auto accident can leave your body feeling very different afterward. Neck pain, back pain, headaches, stiffness, and soreness are all common concerns following a collision and sometimes those symptoms don't show up immediately.

At Johnson Ranch Chiropractic, we believe it’s important to understand what your body may have experienced during an accident and determine the appropriate next steps based on a thorough evaluation.

Why Can You Feel Fine Immediately After an Accident?

It’s possible to walk away from an accident feeling relatively normal and notice discomfort later that day or even afterward.

One common auto accident injury is whiplash, a soft-tissue injury caused by a sudden, rapid movement of the neck. Symptoms may not always appear immediately following the accident.

That’s why it’s important to pay attention to changes in how you feel and move following a collision.

Common Symptoms After an Auto Accident

Depending on the accident and the areas affected, someone may notice:

• Neck pain or stiffness

• Low or mid-back pain

• Headaches

• Shoulder discomfort

• Muscle soreness or tightness

• Reduced range of motion

• Dizziness

• Numbness or tingling

• Difficulty turning or moving the neck comfortably

  
  

Car accidents are a common cause of neck injuries, and whiplash can involve pain or stiffness in the neck as well as discomfort in areas such as the shoulders or arms.

Everyone responds differently to an accident, so symptoms and recovery can vary from person to person.

What Is Whiplash?

Whiplash is essentially a sprain or strain of the neck caused by a sudden, forceful movement of the head. This type of movement can happen during a motor vehicle collision, particularly when the body is suddenly accelerated or stopped.

While neck pain is one of the symptoms people commonly associate with whiplash, headaches, stiffness, dizziness, and discomfort extending into the shoulders or arms may also occur.

Why Get Evaluated After an Accident?

An evaluation gives Dr. Boley an opportunity to look beyond simply “Where does it hurt?”

At Johnson Ranch Chiropractic, the goal is to evaluate things such as your movement, range of motion, areas of discomfort, and how the accident may have affected the way your body is functioning.

From there, Dr. Boley can determine whether chiropractic care or another conservative treatment option may be appropriate and create a treatment plan based on your individual findings.

If something is outside the scope of chiropractic care or requires additional medical evaluation, an appropriate referral can be recommended.