As fall winds down, the rainy season is not far behind.
At the onset of the rainy season, there is a sudden spike in the number of car accidents. The new rains turn all the oil and sludge on the roads accumulated over the summer and fall into a slimy film that causes cars to lose traction on the road.
The majority of car accidents during this time fall into the category of low speed, rear-end collision, usually at a stop sign or in stop and go traffic. People are still used to their summer driving habits as it pertains to speed, distance kept behind the car in front, and the timing of applying brakes when stopping.
Even at low speeds, a rear end collision can cause significant soft tissue injuries of the occupants due to the large amount of kinetic energy generated. In cases where a smaller car is struck from behind by a larger vehicle, there is usually more injury sustained.
There is a misperception that if there is minimal to no noticeable damage to the car, it means that you can’t be injured. When a car dents, it is absorbing some of the collision force at that spot. When it doesn’t dent, the force of the collision is transferred to the entire car and into the occupants of that car. So, denting to some degree is desired.
A rear-end collision, even at low speeds of 10 mph, can cause your neck to violently arch backwards, and, like a coiled spring, cause your head to immediately swing forward, then backwards again at a lower force. This happens in less than a second. If the force generated is strong enough, it can cause microtears in the covering of your muscles (fascia), muscle fibers in your neck, and in severe cases, joint capsular damage and nerve root damage. Some people even sustain vertebral body fractures, or spinous fractures and ligament tears.
Other related symptoms can be headaches, dizziness, fatigue, jaw pain, and wrist, shoulder, lower back and even knee pain.
Chiropractic is the perfect treatment for whiplash (cervical sprain/strain), also called cervical acceleration-deceleration injuries. A chiropractor who is knowledgeable in treating this condition will know that the first order of business is to rule out dangerous/severe injuries that might have been missed. This includes ligament rupture, spinal cord injury, hematomas (bleeding on the brain), fractures, or anything else that might require immediate medical attention.
Once that is cleared, and the condition is diagnosed as limited to sprain strain in nature, treatment can begin. The chiropractor will take a complete history of the accident and will be interested in the collision angles involved (reveals a lot about the locations of the injury); position of the body at the time of impact; whether or not seatbelt was worn; if the patient saw the accident coming and braced; if an airbag discharged, if X-rays were taken at the emergency room, and so on.
During the acute stage, the goal is to reduce and help move out swelling/edema; reduce pain, and gradually re-introduce motion to damaged/ misaligned spinal joints.
As the pain decreases, treatment goal shifts to restoring range of motion to pre-injury status and strengthening/rehabilitating joints and muscles. It is critical that this phase is seen to completion, because it is designed to prevent problems from re-occuring and reduce the chances of chronic pain/ reduced flexibility.
So if you’ve been injured in a “low speed” car accident, consider calling a chiropractor for an evaluation.
In the meantime, make sure that your tire treads are still good, your brakes work fine, and be more careful when driving in the rain: use a slower speed, increase the distance between yourself and the car in front of you than you normally do, and hit the brakes sooner than you would on a dry road, gradually pressing down till coming to a safe stop. Also be more vigilant around you of other drivers who may not be taking these precautions.
Dan Perez, DC
(415) 627-9077
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Thank you for the great advice. I was rear ended last year in exactly the way you described– on I-80 in stop and go traffic, light rain. The guy behind me wasn’t paying attention and hit me from behind. Although my car didn’t have much damage, you couldn’t tell it from the violence of the crash. I was sure my whole trunk was smashed in, but all there was was a scratch and small dent. But my neck was in pain for two weeks afterwards.
Had to laugh at the rainy day coming remark! Our winter is fast approaching( 2-3 ft. of snow) -30 f. I can only wish it would rain.
Dr. Perez understands the biomechanics and injuries that can be sustained in a low speed car accident. When someone has been involved in a car accident they should be examined by a Chiropractor.
I was rear-ended last week. I thought my neck pain would get better on its own, but it isn’t and now my low back and ankle are in pain. I’ll be giving you a call.