A low impact auto accident is generally defined as an incident that
takes place at speeds less than 10 miles per hour (mph). This type of
collision usually causes the least amount of damage to the vehicles
involved. Body injuries can result from any accident and that includes
ones that occur with vehicles going less than 10 mph. Soft tissue
injuries are the most common problem for those involved in a low impact
accident.
A motor vehicle accident that takes place at speeds
between under 10 mph often brings about little visible damage to the
cars involved. Sometimes due to the fact that minimal damage was done to
vehicle the injuries to the people in the vehicles are overlooked. This
does not mean that bodily injury did not occur to the passengers during
the crash.
While an automobile is built to take a slow 5 to 10
mph crash that is not necessarily true for your body. In a low impact
accident a person’s soft tissue can be damaged.The back and neck are the
usual problem spots for soft tissue injuries. Soft tissue is basically a
person’s ligaments, tendons and muscles. Soft tissue injuries are
typically classified as contusions or bruises, sprains or strains.
A
contusion is an injury to the soft tissue caused by blunt force. This
force produces pooling of blood around the injury causing discoloring of
the skin. This is commonly is referred to as a bruise. Bruising can be
found in different shapes and colors.
A sprain is an injury to a
ligament often brought about by a wrench or twist. A sprain can be a
simple sprain, a partial tear or a complete tear. This can happen to
various parts of a person’s body during an accident. It is not uncommon
for a person to twist in their seat as a vehicle strikes theirs during
the incident.
A strain is an injury to the muscle or tendon
caused by overuse, force or stretching. The force of the car crash can
push on a person’s soft tissue or cause parts to stretch in an abnormal
way.Muscles and tendons support your bones. A strain may cause a partial
or complete tear in the muscle and tendon combination.
The neck
of a car occupant can whip forward causing the most common rear impact
injury known as whiplash. General Motors (GM) did a study regarding
crashes at speeds below eight mph. GM found, to no surprise, that
injuries do occur at such low speeds. The study also showed that
whiplash injuries account for more than half of all injuries connected
to vehicular accidents.
Although these types of injuries are
characteristically classified as minor nearly 30 percent of those hurt
in low speed collisions have reported having neck pain up to three years
later. This injury is likely to be worse in those that experienced a
rear end collision. Depending on the age of the person this injury could
cause a permanent disability.
A motor vehicle can take the force
of a low speed collision without showing much damage due to the
advances car manufacturers have made in the construction of their
vehicles. When a collision does occur the force of the accident pushes
inertia somewhere and once the automobile has taken part of that energy
away the occupants take the rest. These forces are what can cause people
bodily harm even in a crash of below 10 mph.Soft tissue injuries can
occur to those involved in a low speed impact and though these injuries
might be hard to see they exist.
So call to make an appointment or visit us at ndallaschiropractic.com
Friday, November 18, 2011
Low Back Pain
Low
back pain is the cause of many patients who limp, hobble or even crawl
in to our office. It’s not surprising to learn that Low back pain
results in millions of dollars of lost work and untold suffering every
day.
Low back pain usually falls in to one of the following categories:
1. Patients have experienced chronic long term pain or discomfort with multiple episodes of increased pain which come and go.
Many of these people either cover the pain with OTC or prescription medications, or decide to just live with it. The problem is that all medications have both short and long term side effects. Only in rare cases should this be considered as a long term treatment option to this typically correctable problem.
Low back pain usually falls in to one of the following categories:
1. Patients have experienced chronic long term pain or discomfort with multiple episodes of increased pain which come and go.
Many of these people either cover the pain with OTC or prescription medications, or decide to just live with it. The problem is that all medications have both short and long term side effects. Only in rare cases should this be considered as a long term treatment option to this typically correctable problem.
As far as just living with the pain, two areas must be considered.
First, pain is NOT normal, so there IS something wrong. Ignoring it or just dealing with it allows the condition to progress undiagnosed and untreated. Lastly, why live with it and the effects it can have on your QUALITY of life, if you don't have to.
2. These patients are the limpers, hobblers and crawlers. Their pain started all at once and hit hard and fast. We typically hear something like "I just reached down to pick up a book and my back went out." Another common statement goes something like "I have never had low back pain before."
This type of condition can stop even the most determined and tough individual in their tracks and literally bring them to their knees. This can be a very scary time for those who have never experienced this before.
Typically our spinal examination reveals long time trauma or misalignment of the Lumbar vertebrae, the sacrum or the hips. The body has gotten to a point where it is overcome by these conditions and literally stops functioning properly.
NOTE: There are a number of causes of low back pain. Most who seek out our office fall into the category of Chiropractic care to fix the CAUSE of the problem. We have great success with these patients. Occasionally, we find that the problem is not musculo-skeletal related and in these cases, they are referred to to another type of Doctor who specializes in their particular condition.
First, pain is NOT normal, so there IS something wrong. Ignoring it or just dealing with it allows the condition to progress undiagnosed and untreated. Lastly, why live with it and the effects it can have on your QUALITY of life, if you don't have to.
2. These patients are the limpers, hobblers and crawlers. Their pain started all at once and hit hard and fast. We typically hear something like "I just reached down to pick up a book and my back went out." Another common statement goes something like "I have never had low back pain before."
This type of condition can stop even the most determined and tough individual in their tracks and literally bring them to their knees. This can be a very scary time for those who have never experienced this before.
Typically our spinal examination reveals long time trauma or misalignment of the Lumbar vertebrae, the sacrum or the hips. The body has gotten to a point where it is overcome by these conditions and literally stops functioning properly.
NOTE: There are a number of causes of low back pain. Most who seek out our office fall into the category of Chiropractic care to fix the CAUSE of the problem. We have great success with these patients. Occasionally, we find that the problem is not musculo-skeletal related and in these cases, they are referred to to another type of Doctor who specializes in their particular condition.
Monday, November 14, 2011
Fatherhood can help change a man's bad habits
Fatherhood can help change a man's bad habits: After men become fathers for the first time, they show significant decreases in crime, tobacco and alcohol use, according to a new, 19-year study. Researchers assessed more than 200 at-risk boys annually from the age of 12 to 31, and examined how men's crime, tobacco, alcohol, and marijuana use changed over time. While previous studies showed that marriage can change a man's negative behavior, they had not isolated the additional effects of fatherhood.
Caucasians who avoid sun exposure more likely to be vitamin D deficient, study suggests
Caucasians who avoid sun exposure more likely to be vitamin D deficient, study suggests: Light-skinned people who avoid the sun are twice as likely to suffer from vitamin D deficiency as those who do not, according to a study of nearly 6,000 people. Surprisingly, the use of sunscreen did not significantly affect blood levels of vitamin D, perhaps because users were applying too little or too infrequently, researchers speculate.
Neuromuscular warm-up associated with reduced lower extremity injuries in adolescent female athletes
Neuromuscular warm-up associated with reduced lower extremity injuries in adolescent female athletes: Integrating a coach-led neuromuscular warm-up prior to sports practice appeared to reduce the risk of lower extremity injuries in female high school soccer and basketball athletes, according to a new report.
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