STATEN ISLAND, N.Y., June 21, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Touch Stone Rehabilitation & Health Center is urging auto accident victims to seek immediate treatment following a car accident. Accidents at speeds as slow as 5mph can cause serious musculoskeletal injuries, including whiplash, chronic neck pain and headaches. Staten Island chiropractor Dr. Angelo DiMaggio is raising awareness about the importance of receiving a comprehensive diagnostic exam as soon as possible following an accident.
Staten Island chiropractor Dr. Angelo DiMaggio and Touch Stone Rehabilitation & Health Center are recommending that car accident victims receive an immediate diagnostic exam to determine the extent of their injuries, including whiplash. Whiplash is the most common car accident injury, according to Dr. DiMaggio, and frequently not diagnosed until weeks or even months after the accident occurs.
"Many accident victims delay seeking treatment, mistakenly believing that if they walk away with only a few minor cuts or bruises, everything is fine," said Dr. DiMaggio. "That's simply not the case, however. Fender benders at speeds as slow as 5mph can cause serious whiplash injuries. Just because a physical injury is not immediately apparent after the accident doesn't mean that serious damage to the musculoskeletal system has not occurred."
Whiplash occurs when the force of a rear-impact accident "whips" the cervical spine backwards and forwards, knocking the neck out of alignment. When this misalignment occurs, the nearby muscles and ligaments may also be torn or strained. Whiplash injury symptoms include headaches at the base of the skull and soreness and stiffness in the neck and shoulders.
In addition to whiplash injuries, back, leg, knee and foot injuries are also common for accident victims, says Dr. DiMaggio.
"Auto accident injuries are not limited to the upper body," said Dr. DiMaggio. "The ankles, feet and toes can be easily strained, sprained and even broken. For example, the knees are especially susceptible to meniscus tears if they are abruptly twisted or turned. Physiotherapy, in addition chiropractic adjustments, may be necessary to treat these injuries."
Chiropractic care is one treatment option that is designed to bring correct alignment to the spine. Together with physiotherapy, Dr. DiMaggio says chiropractic adjustments are a critical part of the injury recovery process from a car accident.
"At Touch Stone Rehabilitation & Health Center, we follow a proactive approach to injury treatment," said Dr. DiMaggio. "Prompt diagnostic exams after an accident provide immediate feedback on possible injuries so we can begin treatment immediately often before more obvious physical pain symptoms occur."
While Dr. DiMaggio stresses the importance of prompt care, he says that it is never too late to treat a car accident injury.
"Chiropractic care and physiotherapy can help relieve pain whether the accident happened last week or last year," said Dr. DiMaggio.
For more information on car accident injury diagnosis and chiropractic car, visit http://touchstonerehab.com