Posts Tagged "Automobile Accident"

What Causes A Spinal Subluxation?

Posted by Dr. Wirtz on Dec 13, 2011 in Blog, Drug Free Treatment, Free Exam | 0 comments

Recently I have had so many patients ask me how their spine got to be so out of place or what caused the “subluxation” happen.  So, I did some research and found this great article on chiro.org about the cause of spinal subluxations.  Most people don’t realize that the first trauma they probably had in life was as a baby when they were born.  So, not only should adults be seen by a chiropractor…..children should too!  So make your appointment today for a free exam and start getting your adjustments to get rid of spinal subluxations to keep you healthy and prevent disease!

General Causes of Spinal Subluxations

Several authorities describe the general causes of vertebral subluxations (a bone out of place) as including mechanical irritation, overt trauma (eg, blows, whiplash, lifting, falls, birth injuries), chronic spinal strain or sprain, somatosomatic and viscerosomatic reflexes, IVD protrusions and distortions, postural tension due to balance faults (eg, scoliosis, pregnancy, visceroptosis) and the stress of bipedism, chemical and toxic irritation, and psychologic or environmental stress all which may result in asymmetric muscle spasticity leading to articular malalignment and/or fixation. Susceptibility is thought to increase in states of chronic fatigue, anemia, erosive arthritides, systemic toxemia, and hereditary predisposition because of anomalous development.

Many spinal subluxations have more than one immediate cause and effect. For example, a developmental abnormality may be complicated by degenerative joint disease, retrograde changes, inflammation, or muscle splinting. The effects may be direct upon blood vessels and nerves, reflex in nature, etc. Therefore, a complicated and far-reaching series of interacting and interdependent changes occur that may be designated as a subluxation syndrome.

The extent of dysfunction of a bony segment within its articular bed may vary in effect from a microtrauma to one that is macroscopic and quite readily discernible. It is always attended to some degree by articular dysfunction, neurologic insult, and stressed muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Once produced, the lesion usually becomes a focus of sustained irritation from which a bombardment of impulses stream into the spinal cord where internuncial neurons receive and relay them to motor and/or sensory pathways. The muscular contraction that provoked the subluxation originally is thereby reinforced, thus perpetuating both the structural subluxation and the pathophysiologic processes involved.

Priority subluxations are often specific positional errors originating from alterations in the integrity of the paraspinal supporting tissues of the involved joint itself. As such, they are beyond the capacities of the muscular system to correct by its own functional adaptations.

Precipitating Factors of Spinal Subluxations

Vertebral subluxations may be either causes or effects, and the immediate causes may be divided into two major categories: the unequal or asymmetrical muscular efforts upon the joint structures and the inequality in the supporting tissues of a particular joint such as the cartilage, IVD, ligaments, etc. Some form of internal or external stress is usually necessary to produce a fixation to a degree sufficient to cause a state of dysfunction.

An inequality in muscular balance (ipsilateral weakness and compensatory contralateral contraction) may be initiated by:
(1) trauma,
(2) postural distortion phenomena,
(3) psychomotor responses,
(4) somatic and visceral responses, and
(5) paralytic effects.

Chiropractic After an Accident

Posted by Dr. Heuser on Sep 16, 2011 in Auto Accident, Blog, Personal Injury | 1 comment

Some injuries sustained in an auto accident are hidden and can remain undetected for months or even years.  Even a minor accident can have major effects later.  If you are experiencing soreness and stiffness after an accident you should consider a thorough chiropractic exam.  Without proper treatment, later you may experience issues such as numbness and tingling, headaches, muscle stiffness or pain, or even arthritis.

No matter how small the impact of the accident seemed, your body may have absorbed significant force to shift the spine and restrict the normal function of the nervous system.  Most people do not know this, but speeds as low as 5 miles per hour can create enough force to cause spinal injuries.  Because many individuals in low impact collisions do not notice pain right away they do not seek treatment until pain begins.  There are injuries to the soft tissue (muscles, ligaments, and discs) that cannot be seen externally or felt at the time of the accident.  These injuries can heel with scar tissue causing aches and pains and decreased health weeks or even months later.

Visiting a chiropractor after an accident is an essential step in diagnosing any potential trauma.  Chiropractors can effectively treat whiplash and other neck injuries as well as back pain and soft tissue injuries.  Chiropractic treatments can loosen stiff muscles and pain associated with the accident.  Chiropractors can determine the amount of damage sustained in the accident and recommend a proper treatment plan that is necessary for a full recovery.

Understanding How Your Auto Insurance Works When it Comes to Paying For Your Injuries

Posted by fseblog on Jun 6, 2011 in Blog, Insurance | 0 comments

MED PAY BENEFITS

Your auto insurance will usually cover some or all of the costs of treatment if you feel you are injured in an accident no matter which party is at fault. Your auto premiums cannot be increased for using your benefits, either.  In Colorado you are given 5000.00 in medical pay benefits with your auto policy unless you request not to have it in order to make your premiums a bit lower, or you may request more than 5000.00 which will increase your premiums a bit.   When you are in an auto accident, your own insurance will pick up that amount, 5000.00, or whatever other amount you requested when buying your policy.  However, if you opt to have no medical pay benefit, you will not have coverage should the accident be your fault.

Why do we offer a free treatment (or what’s the catch)?

Posted by fseblog on Jun 3, 2011 in Free Exam, Free Treatment, Insurance, Personal Injury | 0 comments

I know what you have heard about chiropractic and we at Heuser Chiropractic intend to change your perception by offering you a free treatment.  This treatment is a no charge, no obligation, appointment that gives you the opportunity to find out if chiropractic is for you.