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Even "Little" Accidents Can be Dangerous Recently, a young man went to his chiropractor because he was having headaches and dizzy spells. The chiropractor examined him and asked him if he had been injured recently. "No, not really, " the patient reported. "I mean, I was in a little fender bender a couple weeks ago, but it wasn't serious. I didn't have to go to the hospital or anything." Like so many other people, he didn't see how a "little" accident could cause any problems. He didn't break any bones or spill any blood. The care was barely dented on the passenger side, and he was able to drive away as soon as the police finished their report. What he didn't realize is that physical damage can occur even during a very minor impact. Any sudden jolt can jar the vertebrae (the bones along the spinal column) out of position. According to federal government experts, "All driving can be dangerous. More than 80% of all car crashes occur at speeds less than 10 mph. Fatalities involving non- belted occupants of cars have been recorded at as low as 12 mph. That's about the speed you'd be driving in a parking lot." (U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Seat belt safety pamphlet # DT HS 802 152). same conclusion. "The amount of damage to the automobile bears little relation to the force applied to the cervical spine of the occupants," they explained. (Charles Carroll, M.D., Paul McAfee, M.D., and Lee Riley, Jr., M.D., "Objective findings for diagnosis of 'whiplash'" March 1986). Other health care professionals agree. "The accident does not need to be server in order to generate cervical trauma. Using the brakes when the light suddenly turns red and when the neck is too relaxed is enough to cause trauma," said orthopedic doctor Robert Maigne, M.D. ("A New Approach to Vertebral Manipulations," C.C. Thomas, 1972). Sometimes, even after "little" accidents, the effect of subluxations are immediate: pain, stiffness, loss of mobility; Unfortunately, at other times, outward symptoms take time to surface. Weeks or months later, headaches, backaches, dizziness, or other physical symptoms arise. Many cases have been documented where people don't feel the effect of the accident-caused subluxation until years later! This is not to imply that every accident or sudden stop will cause a subluxation Everyday, people walk away from serious accidents completely unharmed. But, anyone who is in an accident - even a minor one - should visit a chiropractor for a thorough checkup. It's the only way to be sure!
Dr. D. <back to articles |
