At some point in life, everyone experiences back or neck pain or other ailments and you may need to seek care from a chiropractor. Some chiropractors specialize in particular areas like pediatrics, orthopedics, digestive issues, or internal disorders. Car accident chiropractors are also a common specialty you may see when looking for someone to help ease your pain. But what if you find a convenient and experienced car accident chiropractor and you haven’t recently been in a car accident? Though car accident victims may be the most common patients, these chiropractors are also trained in treating a number of conditions.
What Is a Car Accident Chiropractor?
Before becoming specialists, these professionals go through the same training as all chiropractors. That means a four-year undergraduate degree and a four-year graduate-level program to gain a Doctor of Chiropractic title. This education includes classroom, laboratory, and clinical rotations and ends in the need to pass a National Board exam. Chiropractors then have to undergo continuing education throughout their careers.
All chiropractors are trained in the fundamental skills and beliefs of the practice. This means there is a heavy focus on the biomechanics and structure of the spine and how any degradation can lead to negative impacts on the nervous system. Once this is understood, chiropractors then learn how to restore the structural integrity of the spine, reduce pressure on neurological tissue, and improve the overall health of the individual. This is taught from a holistic viewpoint that is common amongst chiropractors.
From there, a chiropractor may end up specializing in a certain area, including the treatment of car accident injuries. The spine and musculoskeletal system are particularly vulnerable to certain car accident-related injuries that a chiropractor with expertise can address. They may become very skilled at identifying these specific injuries or relating details of the car accident to bodily damage.
Visiting the Chiropractor
A visit to the chiropractor for car accident-related problems will be very similar to a visit for unrelated pain. Your doctor will start by asking about your symptoms and any inciting events, your medical history, and your goals for treatment. They will then perform a physical exam and possible diagnostic scans before building a personalized treatment plan to restore your spinal health.
Car accident chiropractors will know the right questions to ask if you’ve recently been in an accident because they understand the spine and the body and can use that information to inform their work. This understanding carries over to unrelated pain, and their expertise in the spine will remain relevant no matter your issue.
All chiropractors have the goal of returning your spine to alignment through chiropractic adjustments and restoring your health, no matter what has caused the issue. Without an accident to pinpoint, a car accident chiropractor may simply have to ask more questions to understand what is causing your pain.
Benefits of a Chiropractor
The reasons to visit a chiropractor remain the same no matter their specialty. Pain relief will be top of mind, but you will also be able to choose a natural, drug-free option when choosing a chiropractor. If they can heal someone in need of whiplash treatment, chances are they can help with your pain as well.
Chiropractors that deal with car accident victims are also extremely skilled at finding injuries that are not even presenting symptoms. Typically, by the time pain begins to be a problem, the initial injury or condition has been present for a longer period of time, worsening. Because many car accident injuries have a delay before symptoms begin, these doctors are used to looking for problems you may not even know you have and beginning treatment early. This means they can help prevent more pain in your future.
Many car accident chiropractors also have the ability to work with a wide network of other specialists. Because car accident injuries can be severe, they may have to refer to Atlanta neurologists and orthopedic surgeons at various points. This collaborative environment and access to other professionals means you get a holistic experience based on a broad view of your health.
At AICA Orthopedics, our chiropractors see patients for a variety of conditions every day. Many people visit after a car accident and continue treatment long after these injuries have healed, while others come to us with unrelated pain. Our team of specialists offers a comprehensive approach to your recovery, no matter what has caused your pain. Contact us today to meet with the team!
