Soft Tissue Injury After a Car Accident – Can Chiropractic Help?

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First, we need to determine exactly what is a soft tissue injury?  A by the book definition of a soft tissue injury would imply that there is no bone injury, but rather an injury to ligaments, muscles, joints, facet joints of the spine, and intervertebral discs, etc.  Another term that you commonly hear associated with soft tissue injuries would be a sprain/strain.  The following is a list of common soft tissue injuries:

Why are motor vehicle collisions such a common cause of soft tissue injuries?  The mass of the car is so large that the forces generated by the collision will stretch and/or tear one or several of the soft tissues.  The injury of various soft tissues leads to inflammation and pain.

Soft tissue injury treatment – what should be done?  If you have injured soft tissues then they will need to heal.  First, lets discuss what research stresses should not be done.  If you have injured soft tissues (muscles, ligaments, joints, facet joints of the spine, discs, etc.) prolonged immobilization will actually delay recover and weaken tissue strength and function.  Immobilization literally means not moving.

Essentially, if your treatment simply includes medications for pain and rest, that treatment plan is the least favorable for soft tissue injury healing and recovery.  You may be thinking, that is what my Doctor recommended.  If your Doctor recommended this treatment plan, they are not a specialist in the treatment of soft tissue injuries.

Treatment for Soft Tissue Injuries

What is the optimal treatment for soft tissue injuries?  According to research done at the University of Iowa, early, controlled, and consistent motion of soft tissue injuries ensures the best and fastest healing.  An important point stressed by Dr. Joseph Buckwalter, M.D. is that this treatment should begin as soon as possible after the soft tissue injury.  You should not wait a week to see if the neck pain or back pain goes away.

What is the type of treatments which provide this helpful motion for healing?  There should be stretching, exercises involving muscle contraction, and passive mobilization.  Thus, a treatment plan should include:

  • Neck Pain Exercises and Stretches
  • Back Pain Exercises and Stretches
  • Headache Exercises and Stretches
  • Passive Mobilization

I would like to briefly discuss passive mobilization because of its importance, especially for spinal soft tissue injuries which most commonly occur from motor vehicle accidents.  A mobilization or manipulation (chiropractic adjustment) is an example of a passive mobilization procedure. Studies continue to show that passive mobilization is far superior to active mobilization (exercise) in improving motion to the spine and thus healing soft tissue injuries involving the spine.  Thus, for spinal soft tissue injuries your treatment should include more than physical therapy exercises for the fastest and best healing.

If you need soft tissue injury treatment from a car accident contact my office in Roseville, MN today.  As a chiropractor, I specialize in spinal soft tissue injuries by providing gentle passive mobilizations (chiropractic adjustments), physical therapy exercises, and physical therapy stretching.  All of these types of treatments are necessary for the most ideal healing of soft tissue injuries and pain relief.  We also serve patients in Saint Paul, MN, Arden Hills, MN, Falcon Heights, MN, and Shoreview, MN.