The truth about car accidents!

It is possible to be injured in a car accident and not even know it. Frequently, I have a new patient with unexplained neck pain. During our consultation, I find out that they were involved in a car accident and never had their spine checked afterwards. Now they are in pain and their injuries will take longer to correct.
Many of us have been tricked into thinking we can not sustain permanent injury from a car accident. Unfortunately, this misconception has led to unnecessary pain and suffering. Several years of science and research has shown us that any car accident has the potential of causing a problem that will stay with you for the rest of your life.
Even what may seemingly be a “minor” accident can cause damage. Consider this: If your car is stopped and someone hits you while moving at 5 mph your neck and head are accelerated from zero to 5 mph in a few milliseconds. As a result of this rapid acceleration, the muscles and ligaments in your neck are rapidly stretched way beyond their normal length to the point of biomechanical failure. Picture this: a 20 lb. weight is tied to a piece of string. If the weight is gently lowered, the string can hold it. But, when that weight is dropped the string breaks. In this same way, the supporting fibers of your spine can be damaged. Believe me, this will cause problems.
Here’s the good news. According to The British Journal of Medicine, Chiropractic is the only effective treatment for whiplash (1). Injuries from a car accident are quite simple to detect. After an examination and x-rays, we can determine if you need prompt attention. If you require treatment from another specialist, I can give you a referral. Or, you may be fine and need no care at all. My feeling is it is better to be safe than sorry. So the choice is yours, you can have your spine checked immediately when it is quite easy to correct. Or you can wait for it to become a painful problem.

Dr. Peter Brockman is the clinic director at South Lake Wellness and Injury Center. He is a graduate of West Orange High School in Winter Garden, Florida. He received a Bachelor of Science in microbiology from the University of South Florida. Dr. Brockman continued his studies at the Cleveland Chiropractic College of Los Angeles where he received a Doctorate in Chiropractic. Dr. Brockman is also a graduate of the San Diego Spine Research Institute and is certified in treating whiplash and brain traumatology.