FRANKFORT, Ill., March 10, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Frankfort chiropractor Dr. Scott Stratton is urging car accident victims to seek prompt medical treatment following their accidents. According to Dr. Stratton, even accidents at slow speeds can cause whiplash injuries and neck pain. The absence of external injuries does not mean that the body is healthy. A musculoskeletal misalignment can occur as a result of fender benders and other minor accidents. Dr. Stratton says that prompt treatment is essential for helping accident victims heal safely and supporting whole body wellness.
Auto accident victims can benefit from chiropractic care even if there are no physical symptoms of injury, says Dr. Scott Stratton.
According to Dr. Stratton, many accident victims mistakenly believe that they are healthy as long as there are no broken bones or other serious external injuries. However, Dr. Stratton cautions, that may not be the case.
"Even minor fender benders can trigger serious damage to the musculoskeletal system," said Dr. Stratton. "Unfortunately, since there are no immediate external signs of these injuries, it is easy to believe the body is healthy when it is in fact injured. A visit to the chiropractor is the best way to identify a spinal misalignment and take prompt steps to correct this problem before the onset of pain."
Without proper care after an auto accident injury, Dr. Stratton says that scar tissue can build up along the injured muscles. This scar tissue aggravates pain and exacerbates health problems, especially for whiplash injury patients.
"Whiplash is one of the most common accident injuries," said. Dr. Stratton. "Without immediate treatment, whiplash injuries can lead to a lifetime of neck pain, headaches, migraines and other health problems."
Dr. Stratton recommends a chiropractic evaluation for all patients after a car accident. This evaluation includes X-rays and a physical wellness exam to identify the precise location of a spinal misalignment. For whiplash victims with neck pain, these subluxations are typically in the cervical spine.
"A diagnostic evaluation gives us a 'snapshot' of a patient's spinal health," said Dr. Stratton. "We can identify areas in the body that are misaligned and then take steps to correct these problems."
When a misalignment occurs, a disc or vertebra may slip out of position, compressing nearby nerves. This compression can cause a pinched nerve and trigger radiating pain, headaches or migraines. Whiplash victims may also have difficulty concentrating on simple tasks or sleeping at night.
"Chiropractic adjustments are the most effective way to bring proper alignment back to the spine and safely manage pain without the need for medication," said Dr. Stratton. "Most importantly, adjustments also reduce the risk for future injury and support whole body wellness."
Car accident victims may learn more about the benefits of chiropractic care by visiting http://www.drscottstratton.com.