Being involved in an auto accident can be incredibly stressful, even if it's only a fender-bender. In the midst of assessing the damage to your vehicle and filing an insurance claim, it can be easy to underestimate the extent of your own injuries, especially since auto accident injury pain isn't always obvious right away.

It's important to see a chiropractor as soon as you can after a mishap. Whiplash, which is the violent and sudden jerking of a driver's neck, is extremely common. Getting care promptly, alleviates many of the symptoms, such as neck pain, headaches, and difficulty sleeping, that slow down the recovery process.

Your chiropractor will do several tests to get to the root of any discomfort you are having. An orthopedic test will place stress on your joints to judge their state and analyze the source of your pain. Neurological testing determines which nerves are being affected. Spine health is evaluated through chiropractic testing.

The chiropractor will come up with a specific care program involving several components. The primary component will relieve the pain. Misaligned vertebrae will be restored to their original position through spinal adjustments.

Another component of the program may be massage therapy. It is common for victims of auto mishaps to suffer muscle strains and sprains. Chiropractors manipulate the soft tissue to reduce inflammation and discomfort. Massage also improves the circulation and enhances the patient's sense of well being.

Once the body has been stabilized, strengthening is necessary to maintain the benefits of corrective therapies and reduce the likelihood of subsequent injuries. Each patient is given an individually-tailored exercise plan. Adjunct modalities such as heat or ice therapy and traction protocols are usually recommended, too.

By addressing the underlying causes of pain rather than just managing symptoms, chiropractic care provides natural, drug-free solutions for car accident injuries.