Auto Accidents Treatment and Whiplash | Chiropractor Lakewood | Renew Chiropractic
Car Wreck Treatment | Whiplash | Car Wrecks| Auto Accident Injuries | Car Wreck Injuries | Chiropractor in Lakewood Colorado | Treating Car Wreck Injuries
Avoiding Whiplash Car Wreck Injuries
Seven ways to minimize pain and suffering before, during, and after a whiplash accident.
Shop for a Safer Car
Before you buy your next car, compare vehicle structural design, vehicle size and weight, and restraint systems-belts, airbags, head restraints, and crash avoidance features. Consider mass and crashworthiness. "Small cars put you at greater risk."
Also, check Insurance Institute for Highway Safety ratings for safest seats, head restraints, etc. For example, Volvo and Saab have introduced new seats similar to the designs Dr. Croft recommended in 1988 in the first edition of Whiplash Injuries: The Cervical Acceleration/Deceleration Syndrome.
Keep Head Restraints in Up Position
Eighty percent of cars have the head restraint adjusted in the low position, yet research shows that having no head restraint is safer than having one in the low position. In addition, because head restraints are designed to fit the average man, it can be difficult for taller or shorter people to get a good fit. Some add-on head restraints are available, but check first for safety approval and ease of installation.
Prepare for Crash
Crashes happen at lightning-fast speeds, but if you have time to prepare:
- Put your head and your neck all the way back so that you're in contact with the seat back and the properly adjusted head restraint.
- Straight-arm the steering wheel and get a good grip.
- Put your foot on the brake as hard as you can (assuming that you are stopped, of course).
- Look straight ahead, not in the rearview mirror. Don't have your head turned at all.
- Put your neck back slightly so your eyes are looking level-up at about the top of the windshield.
- Scrunch your shoulders up toward your ears and then brace.
Seek Treatment Immediately
According to Dr. Croft, "It's a huge advantage to get patients when they're fresh. Missing that important two-week opportunity increases the likelihood of a chronic condition."
No Crush, No Crash? Not True
"There's absolutely no truth to that," Dr. Croft says. "Injuries are more prevalent within a certain range of crash speeds when there is no damage, than when there is damage to the vehicle. The reason for this is that the energy that's used up in the crushing of the parts of the car is not transmitted to the occupant."
Do What the Doctor Orders
Exercises, ice, nutrition, soft collars for the first few days, adjusted work stations, deep tissue work in the early stages-do whatever the doctor prescribes. "I take a shotgun approach," Dr. Croft adds. "That's because, in part, the treatments and the ancillary products we recommend are fairly inexpensive and none of them is dangerous or painful. It's worthwhile to prevent these injuries from becoming chronic."
Think Ergonomically
Positions to avoid, how to sleep, conditions at work-these are everyday factors that can hasten healing. For example, patients have problems having their heads turned for long periods of time, such as when talking to someone to one side, looking out an airplane window, or working at the computer with the copy on the left side. For the latter, Dr. Croft recommends moving the copy toward the middle and the monitor toward the right to even things out. He also recommends an office desk chair with armrests. Without armrests, the weight of the arms is suspended from the shoulders, which tends to pull against the muscles of the upper back, primarily the trapezius, which, in turn, causes strain on the neck. Call 720-493-5885 for a FREE Consultation.
*No guarantee of specific results and that the results can vary - See health disclaimer
Customer Review
"I first started going to Dr. Jumper after a car accident. He took such good care of my conditions I couldn't be more thankful. I am always treated with extreme respect by a very friendly staff, and my condition has improved significantly in the time that I have spent with this professional. He is very accommodating, courteous, responsive, and skilled. I've already recommended this business to many of my friends, and will continue to do so, as this is one of the better medical experiences I have experienced. Five stars!"
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