Minor Car Damage ≠ Minor Pain and Symptoms
Auto Accidents
Having only a small amount of damage to your car in an auto accident does not mean that YOU will have only minor injuries or pain. This is by far one of the most destructive myths related to auto accident injuries and whiplash. This myth unnecessarily affects millions for years in the form of chronic pain and suffering from headaches, migraines, neck pain, back pain, sciatica, fatigue, dizziness and other symptoms caused by whiplash and soft tissue injuries from car accidents.
People in cars during auto accidents are no different than fragile eggs in a carton at the grocery store. Most people check the eggs before buying them to see if they are broken. Why don’t they just look at the carton for damage instead? Easy, the carton is designed to be able to sustain impacts and distribute them evenly so as to protect the fragile eggs inside. However, there are times when an outside force hits the carton and cracks the egg inside while leaving the carton intact.
The same is true during auto accidents.
Cars are designed to absorb impacts. Although, many of the most modern cars are specifically designed to absorb impact from higher speed, more dangerous, collisions instead of slower speed collisions. At slower speeds, the modern aluminum cars are much stiffer and hold their form much more rigidly compared to the older steel cars. This offers much more protection for high-speed collisions but can cause more damage to the fragile cargo inside the car in the way of whiplash. Because the car is so rigid but the person is not, all of that force from a 2000 pound automobile is transferred to the person.
There is no valid evidence to support the claim that headaches, migraines, neck pain, back pain, sciatica, fatigue, dizziness or ANY other symptoms have been shown to have any relationship to vehicle damage – NONE! Do not make the mistake by assuming that no or little car damage equals no damage to you. This misinformation is often wittingly perpetuated by medical doctors or even traditional chiropractors that do not have advanced knowledge of whiplash and auto accident induced injuries.
It is imperative that regardless of the damage done to your car, you find a chiropractor experienced with identifying the often overlooked and undertreated soft tissue injuries caused by whiplash and auto accidents your chiropractor at Corrective Chiropractic can help you. At impact speeds of 20 mph, the human head reaches a peak acceleration of 12 g-forces.”
To put that into perspective there are two things you should understand.
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Comparatively other activities and their g-forces:
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1 g, Standing on the Earth at sea level–standard
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3 g, Space Shuttle, maximum during launch and reentry
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4.2 g, Top Fuel drag racing world record of 4.4 s over 1/4 mile
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5-6 g, Formula One car, peak lateral in turns
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9-12g, Typical max. turn in an aerobatic plane or fighter jet
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The forces of whiplash that produce these g-forces are much more dangerous because there is an immediate acceleration AND deceleration. This means there is a quick reversal of the direction of force not just a constant force in one direction! This is why whiplash from even slow speed auto accidents can cause significant soft tissue damage to ligaments and muscles.
If these whiplash induced injuries go undiagnosed or untreated or even undertreated by a chiropractor treating your symptoms or worse your insurance company, you can end up with a lifetime of chronic headaches, migraines, neck pain, back pain, sciatica, fatigue, dizziness or other symptoms. Don’t assume that a little damage to the car means that your injuries are just going to “get better on their own”. Call Corrective Chiropractic today for comprehensive chiropractic care from the top chiropractor in Greenville, NC, and the entire Eastern North Carolina Area.
