Soft Tissue Injury: Can a Chiropractor Help?

Research showed that over 2 million people annually suffer injuries in auto accidents in the US. One of the common injuries incurred in auto accidents is are soft tissue injuries, and victims often need auto accident injury treatment in Lehigh Acres

Soft tissue injuries usually occur when the body’s soft tissue or connective tissues, such as tendons, muscles, and ligaments, are damaged. Some soft tissue injuries include strain, hyperextension, sprain, or hyperflexion of a muscle. It is important that you understand these soft tissue injuries, their symptoms, and how to get treated.

Soft tissue injuries can occur in different ways and cause the patient chronic pain and discomfort if it isn’t treated properly. This is where the help of a chiropractor is needed, as they can provide the right treatment for these types of injuries. In addition, a chiropractor has more knowledge when it comes to soft tissue injuries rather than traditional doctors.

So, if you have been in an auto accident and still feel the pain, you should go for treatment at Specific Care Chiropractic. This is because the pain you are feeling might be a symptom that you have sustained a soft tissue injury.

What Are the Types of Soft Tissue Injury?

There are several types of soft tissue injuries. So, we will explain the most common types that many auto accident victims have experienced.

Whiplash

This is one of the most common soft tissue injuries and the most difficult to handle. For example, whiplash can occur when there is an unexpected jolt to the neck, even at a speed as low as 5 mph. The injury affects the soft tissues surrounding the neck, skull base, and shoulders.

Sometimes, people are unable to figure out if they have whiplash. So, here are some symptoms of whiplash that you should watch out for before heading for treatment.

• Pain in the neck area
• Back pains
• Constant headaches
• Stiff neck
• Loss of concentration

These listed symptoms can appear immediately after the accident or take several hours or days before it shows. However, if the whiplash is left untreated, it can result in a more chronic problem. So, it is highly recommended that you quickly get treatment.

Sprains

A sprain refers to the stretching or tearing of ligaments, a common wound that affects the ankle joints. When you begin experiencing pain, swelling, bruising, feeling a pop sound in the joint, or having difficulty moving the affected joint, then you have sprained your joint. A chiropractor is a perfect solution to this sprain injury, and you should not suffer in silence.

Strains

Strains are also called muscle tears or pulled muscles and refer to when a muscle is stretched too much. When a muscle has been overstretched, it ends up tearing, which can be really painful. Strains are usually caused by accident or when you overuse a muscle or use the muscle in the wrong way.

You should look out for symptoms when you think you have strained your muscles. Some of the signs include:

• Swelling in the affected area
• Difficulty in moving the affected area
• Pain
• Muscle weakness
• Bruising around the affected area
• Muscle spams

Bruises

Bruises, also known as contusions, refer to blood collection outside the blood vessel. This is usually caused when a blood vessel or capillaries leak blood in the surrounding area. The symptoms vary depending on where the bone, tissue, or muscle is located.

However, there are common symptoms that usually apply to the injury regardless of the location. For example, a patient suffering from bruises will experience tenderness, pain, swelling, and a bump in the affected area.

In addition, you might also experience difficulty in using the affected area and notice discolored skin. When this happens, go for auto accident injury treatment in Lehigh Acres.

How Can a Chiropractor Help With Soft Tissue Injury?

A chiropractor focuses on the injury and designs a personalized treatment plan for the patient. For example, while some soft tissue injuries sometimes require immobilization using a cast, others may need gentle movement for quick healing.

Therefore, depending on your type of soft tissue injury, a chiropractor may have to work to increase movement through passive motions. These passive motions can help relax your muscles and even relieve you of pain from the affected area.

A chiropractor uses several methods to help with soft tissue injury. Although, it begins with thoroughly examining the injury to know the right treatment. Below are treatments a chiropractor will apply.

Physical Therapy

Chiropractors sometimes use physical therapy, which is also known as physiotherapy, to help patients with soft tissue injuries. Physical therapy includes specific activities and exercises to help you regain your feet and restore strength.

These specific exercises also help you restore your movement in the affected areas. Chiropractors recommend exercise you can do and shows you how you can safely perform every exercise to improve your recovery.

Heat Therapy

This method is ideal for stiff muscles, strains, and other soft tissue injuries. This method enlarges blood vessels, stimulating the healing process, decreasing pain, and eventually relaxing muscles.

Massage

Chiropractors also recommend therapeutic massage to help you loosen up tense, stiff joints and muscles. Massage is relaxing but also important for many recovery plans as it can increase the effectiveness of other therapies.

Ultrasound Therapy

Another way that a chiropractor help with soft tissue injury is by introducing ultrasound therapy. This therapy uses a wand with a special crystal that vibrates when it is charged and creates ultrasound waves aimed at the affected area. These ultrasound waves provide heat, increase blood flow, improve your ability to move, and also decrease swelling.

Chiropractic Adjustment

This is one of the best treatments for soft tissue injuries such as whiplash. It involves mild adjustment to realign body tissues and vertebrae. This method takes pressure from the injury, increases mobility, and alleviates pain.

Electrical Muscle Stimulation (EMS)

This is another way chiropractors treat soft tissue injuries. This method decreases inflammation, reduces muscle spasms, and relieves pain in the affected area.

In addition, electrical muscle stimulation causes muscles to contract and spasm, releasing pain-relieving endorphins. With this machine, you can get a good therapeutic experience and heal quickly.

Get Auto Accident Injury Treatment in Lehigh Acres at Specific Care Chiropractic

If you have been in an auto accident and sustained soft tissue injuries, you need to seek help from the best injury treatment center in Lehigh Acres, FL. A chiropractor understands more about joint mobility and spinal alignment than a regular doctor. So seeking a chiropractor’s help is the preferred choice to help with your soft tissue injury.

At Specific Care Chiropractic, we are the best injury treatment center in Lehigh Acres, FL. We treat soft tissue injuries and will work with you to ensure that you do not suffer any pain in the future. Contact us to make an appointment today.