Effects of a Car Accident on Your Body

If you’ve sustained a car accident injury, Dr. Matthew Rivera and the team at Rivera Chiropractic in Redwood City and San Carlos, CA can help you heal naturally and more quickly.

How a Car Accident Affects the Body 

A car accident – even a minor one – can wreak havoc on your body. Often, many people do not realize the effects or even that they’ve sustained a car accident injury until days, months, or even years after the event. However, even if you don’t notice any symptoms, it doesn’t mean that damage hasn’t been done. In this guide, Dr. Rivera and the team at Rivera Chiropractic in Redwood City and San Carlos, CA share the various ways in which a car accident can impact the body.

The Human Body Meets External Force 

Imagine that you are on a slow jog in an unfamiliar area. You come around a corner and swiftly run into an unexpected wall. Even at a slow pace, you can imagine that this collision could cause some pain.

A car accident involves a bit more speed, which leads to a greater force that the body sustains. When this occurs, it is similar to sending a shock wave through the body, which can lead to various types of injuries.

Hopefully, you are wearing a seatbelt and your airbag works properly so that you are not thrown from the car. Unfortunately, these life-saving resources can cause some additional issues. As the collision occurs, your body is forcefully moved. The seatbelt and airbag put a quick stop to the body, also forcefully moving it. Such swift and forceful movement can lead to many issues, including the following.

Soft Tissue Injuries 

Collisions tend to send the neck back and forth beyond its normal range of motion. This leads to tiny tears in the soft tissues, which cause stiffness, inflammation, and other symptoms. When this occurs in the neck, it’s called whiplash. However, other soft tissue injuries can occur.

Misalignment and Herniated Discs 

The force that your body sustains often causes the spinal joints to become misaligned. This alone can cause various symptoms, some of which you might not feel for some time. Other times, it can cause a disc to tear, causing pain, numbness, tingling, and weakness.

The injuries mentioned above are just a couple of examples, but there are many more. Visit Dr. Rivera at Rivera Chiropractic in Redwood City and San Carlos, CA to determine if you’ve sustained a car accident injury and begin your journey to healing. Call (650) 593-4447 to schedule an appointment today.