Real injuries, treated at the cause

Numerous studies have shown that years after whiplash victims settle their insurance claims, roughly half of them state that they still suffer symptoms from their injuries. If you have been involved in a car accident, whiplash injuries need to be taken very seriously.

Because symptoms of a whiplash injury can take weeks or months to manifest, it is easy to be fooled into thinking you are not as injured as you really are. Too often people don't seek treatment following a car accident because they don't feel hurt.

Whiplash is caused by a sudden movement of the head — backward, forward or sideways — that damages the supporting muscles, ligaments and connective tissues in the neck and upper back. If you have been in a motor vehicle or any other kind of accident, don't assume you escaped injury just because you're not currently in pain.

Most neck and upper back pain is caused by a combination of factors, including injury, poor posture, chiropractic subluxations, stress and, in some instances, disc problems.

The neck has the least amount of muscular stabilization of any part of the body, yet must support and move a 14–16 pound head — a small amount of force can disrupt that balance.

Because the spinal cord sends nerve bundles down the arms between each pair of cervical vertebrae, a problem in the neck can actually cause pain, numbness, tingling or “pins and needles” in the arms — sometimes mistaken for carpal tunnel syndrome.

Neck problems can also contribute to headaches, muscle spasms in the shoulders and upper back, ringing in the ears, TMJ dysfunction and restricted range of motion.

Chiropractic care can help the spine and pelvis cope with the effects of pregnancy by restoring a state of balance.

As pregnancy progresses, a woman's center of gravity shifts forward, placing stress on the pelvis and low back — about half of all expectant mothers develop low-back pain at some point, especially in the third trimester.

Chiropractic care throughout pregnancy can relieve and even help prevent this pain, and many women find it helps them avoid pain medication during pregnancy.