The first question is always, how did you injure yourself? If your injury was traumatic like a car accident, fall or sudden impact, there is always a chance something is broken. At that point, we recommend examination and X-rays before beginning treatment. Most patients who come into my Broken Arrow chiropractic office for treatment for injuries aren’t in this situation. A lot of time it is something that built slowly over time or “just happened”. In these cases, we still undergo the examination and X-rays in order to properly diagnose the problem and the diagnostic tests allow us to rule out more serious pathophysiology in most cases.

In the case of your back, we need to do a thorough exam to see how your posture is influencing your problem. In today’s world where people can’t pull their eyes away from a screen, it’s important to evaluate if a forward head posture is putting pressure on your skeleton in ways that it shouldn’t. Your head weighs between 12-15 lbs so if it is sitting forward on your skeleton an inch or four inches in some circumstances, it won’t just cause neck pain. It often causes problems all the way up and down your skeleton.

When you seek treatment for injuries in our chiropractic office, we also evaluate how your lifestyle is contributing to your back problem. Are you a mostly sedentary person? Do you sit for work, commute an hour each way and then come home and sit more? Regular exercise and movement throughout the day are critical to feeling good and maintaining health.

As far as an actual treatment for injuries, I typically set people up on a regular adjustment program until we can make changes in how the spine moves and change how the bones articulate with each other. Once we see what changes from that, I can make better recommendations involving stretches and exercises. In the beginning phase of a back injury, I typically recommend a lot of ice/heat contrast therapy along with walking to remain active.  Oftentimes, it’s appropriate to take a break and/or modify the excessive activity you are doing in order to allow the injury to health completely and rapidly although I am not a proponent of eliminating activity totally in most cases.

The good news, if my patients adhere to the treatment plan we set up, especially the first month of it, we see great results.  We say “we’ll have you doing cartwheels in no time.”  Unless of course, you were never able to do a cartwheel in which case, I wouldn’t advise attempting them :-).  If you have questions on whether or not, chiropractic can help your injuries, call our office and set up your first visit.  We are easily reached at 918-940-4630 or you can find us online at www.easternoklahomachiropractic.com.  Thank you for allowing us to be your chiropractor.

The post Injury Recovery in Broken Arrow – Eastern Oklahoma Chiropractic first appeared on Chiropractor Broken Arrow.

Even at low speeds, motor vehicle collisions can have a catastrophic effect on the human anatomy. Auto accidents damage bones, nerves, muscles, tendons and more, and the resulting pain can be debilitating.

Seeking chiropractic treatment as soon as possible is your best bet for overcoming the pain you are experiencing while accelerating the healing process. If you don’t seek out a trusted chiropractor, you risk allowing your injuries to lead to chronic pain that affects you for years.

According to survey of chronic pain sufferers, nearly half – 45 percent – reported that they could trace their condition back to an auto accident. Don’t be one of the people that deals with ongoing discomfort because they didn’t see a chiropractor after a collision.

Common Back Injuries Related Auto Accidents

There are many different types of injuries that car accident victims can experience. The spinal system’s complex network of nerves, discs, muscles, tendons and ligaments is very delicate and very vulnerable to the sudden impacts and shifts associated with collisions.

It doesn’t take much to cause damage. Even a 5 mph collision can lead to whiplash.

Here is a quick rundown of some of the most common back injuries that result from auto accidents:

Cervical Spine Injuries

When the head is whipped back and forth quickly during collision impact, injuries to the cervical spine are common. This type of condition is usually referred to as whiplash. Damage to the vertebrae and nerves can cause long-term pain and stiffness.

Thoracic Spine Injuries

Damage to the thoracic spine, or the upper back, is also common during a wreck. An injury to this part of the anatomy can result in permanent nerve damage and chronic pain.

Lumbar Spine Injuries

The strongest muscles and largest vertebra are located in the lumbar spine in your lower back. Damage here can limit mobility and bring a great deal of pain.

Herniated Discs

The discs between each individual vertebrae provide protection. During an accident, these discs can be knocked out of place, putting pressure on surrounding nerves. Herniated discs can create painful sensations in the lower back and throughout the legs.

Auto Accident Chiropractor in Broken Arrow

Dr. Travis Ring at Eastern Oklahoma Chiropractic recommends that you seek early treatment after a car collision. Early intervention is always the best approach because it allows you to begin to feel better sooner while speeding the process of healing.  To learn more about our auto accident chiropractic services, or to schedule an appointment, call 918-940-4630 now!

The post Chiropractic Care for Car Accidents in Broken Arrow first appeared on Chiropractor Broken Arrow.