CARLSBAD, Calif., July 22, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Carlsbad chiropractors advise individuals involved in auto accidents to receive a chiropractic evaluation immediately following an accident. At West Coast Chiropractic, Dr. Tyson Perez and Dr. Derek Rupp have seen many cases where patients encountered a careless, weather-challenged or distracted driver and suffered serious damage to the spine, nerves and soft tissues due to the car accident. According to Dr. Perez, even minor collisions can cause victims pain, stiffness and limited mobility in the neck, back and limbs if left untreated.
Dr. Perez advises anyone who has experienced an auto accident get a physical evaluation immediately, regardless of whether they are in pain. According to the chiropractor, prompt discovery of a spinal injury enables practitioners to treat problems before scarring and other complications develop. While some patients may need surgery for extensive or emergency injuries, Dr. Perez states that chiropractic adjustments, massage therapy and other techniques can often restore natural alignment and relieve pain, adding, "We have extensive experience in dealing with auto injuries."
"Anytime you are on the road in a car, you face an elevated risk of getting into an accident," added Dr. Rupp. "Even if you are a skilled driver, you can never fully account for the behavior other drivers, weather issues, tire blowouts, and other factors that can trigger an accident. We want to make sure that individuals who experience an accident understand the need for immediate evaluation as well as the available treatment options, including chiropractic adjustment where appropriate."
According to Dr. Perez, some auto injuries make themselves known immediately. Whiplash, for instance, is a well-known auto injury that occurs when a vehicle occupant's upper body is rocked violently forward and then backward on impact. This extreme motion can pull the vertebrae in the neck out of alignment. Symptoms of whiplash can include neck pain, headaches and an inability to turn the head properly.
The chiropractors warn accident victims that not all auto injuries display symptoms at first: "You might experience an injury accident, walk away without a scratch and think you got lucky, when in fact you have sustained a spinal injury. That injury then goes undetected for weeks or months until finally you experience the pain. The longer you let a spinal injury go untreated, the more scar tissue can build up, making it increasingly difficult to correct the problem as time goes by."
The clinic educates people seeking Carlsbad auto injury treatments by posting researched articles and links to detailed information on its website regarding neck injury pain and complications, insurance coverage issues, and video of how auto injuries affect the spine and neck. "We also provide general resources on personal injuries, the body's healing mechanisms and other health advice," says Dr. Perez. More information about auto injury treatments and the experience of the chiropractors can be found on the center's website