Treating Shoulder Pain After a Car Accident | Chiropractic Care

Posted on February 25, 2022

Car accidents often put the body under a lot of stress. This stress can dislocate the shoulder bones and damage soft tissues within the shoulders. Dislocated shoulder joints and broken rotator cuffs are the most common shoulder bruises from car accidents.

If not addressed, these fractures can cause lingering pain and problems. But shoulder injuries do not have to end up that way. Chiropractic treatment can help heal various injuries caused by car accidents, including shoulder pain.

Signs That You Have a Shoulder Injury

A shoulder injury can trigger several symptoms such as:
 

• Piercing pain.
   

• Burning or tingling sensation.
   

• Numbness.
   

• Reduced motion.

When you turn to chiropractic treatment, your chiropractor will ask you about the pain you are experiencing. Your chiro will then check your shoulder for a broken collarbone, bruised rotator cuff, and strained muscles. They will also look for injuries to your ligaments.

Treating Shoulder Pain 

A diagnosis of your shoulder pain will determine your treatment plan. The care plan may include a chiro, a medical doctor, or both to ensure that you are healing more safely and naturally. 

Chiropractic treatment for the shoulder injury may include the following:
 

• Spinal adjustment – This involves realigning the backbone to ease pressure on the shoulder bones and joints.
   

• Chiropractic shoulder adjustment – This entails stretching the shoulders gently to restore them to their normal alignment. This enhances the flow of blood to the bruised area to ease the pain and help the body heal naturally.
   

• Physical exercises – These include gentle stretching exercises that help relieve muscle strain and improve mobility.

Benefits of Getting Chiropractic Treatment for Your Shoulder Pain

Visiting your chiropractor for your shoulder pain after a car accident can be beneficial in the following ways.

Reduce Pain

Spinal adjustments after a car accident can help reduce pain in your shoulder and the rest of the body. Studies show that spinal adjustments cause your body to naturally release pain-relief chemicals into your bloodstream.

Minimize Swelling

Swelling is a typical outcome of physical injuries. While some level of swelling is normal and shows that your body is trying to treat itself, too much swelling can harm your tissues and cause pain.

When your chiropractor works your spine to realign the backbone, the body responds. It stops the production of inflammation-inducing hormones.

Reduce Scar Tissue

The body tries to cure muscle and soft tissue injuries by forming scar tissue. Scar tissues can cause lasting stiffness and discomfort because the tissues may not function normally.

Restore Motion

When you hurt your shoulder in a car accident, it can lose mobility. A chiropractic shoulder adjustment can bring back flexibility and movement in your shoulder by restoring the joints to their proper position.

Experience Non-surgical Care

Chiropractic care is not invasive and may reduce your chances of needing surgery in the future. But if you take too long to address your shoulder injury, surgery may become the only option you have.

For more on treating shoulder pain after a car accident, visit Accident and Injury Chiropractic at our office in Tacoma, Washington. You can call (253) 215-8350 to book an appointment today.