Chiropractic supports injury rehab

By Brandi Schlossberg

From traumatic injuries that may occur due to high impact sports or auto accidents, to the kind of chronic pain and reduced mobility that can result from overuse injuries, broken bones, and surgery, chiropractic care can help heal and rehabilitate the body. If you are experiencing a slow or stunted path back to full recovery from an injury, considering booking some time on your chiropractor’s table.

One common injury that tends to bring clients into the chiropractor’s office is whiplash. This trauma is frequently caused by a car accident, when the head and neck are whipped around beyond healthy boundaries, which can result in damage and pain in the cervical spine. Left untreated, whiplash can lead to chronic neck pain and reduced range of motion (ROM).

To help rehabilitate this common injury, a chiropractor may decide to make adjustments to the neck, or cervical spine. This can help to ease undue pressure on the nerves that may be caused by herniated or displaced discs. Chiropractic care for whiplash may also entail the use of heat, massage therapy, and stretches or exercises to improve neck ROM and strength.

For those who play sports with a passion, especially high-impact sports like football, a visit to the chiropractor’s table may be necessary to restore and maintain full function following an injury. Much like whiplash, the strong forces and hits taken in a game of football can push the spine out of place and cause all kinds of problems and pain.

These same types of high-impact issues also can stem from injuries suffered from a fall from a height or a crash while rollerblading or riding a bike. If the discs in your spine get pushed out of place, whether due to a sports injury or some other high-impact incident, there is an increased chance that you may wind up experiencing pain and loss of function due to pinched nerves and disc herniation.

Such disc problems may occur not only in the neck, as in the case of whiplash, but also lower down the spine, affecting other areas of the body. For example, a chiropractor may need to adjust your lower back to relieve the pressure on nerves that results in sciatica. Fortunately, chiropractic care is widely available to assist in the rehabilitation of these and many other injuries.