Studies show your pain may be more serious than you think!
If you have been injured in an accident, you may be waiting for your pain or other symptoms to fade. Stop waiting and take a proactive step toward your recovery! According to current studies, motor vehicle injuries to the neck and back frequently have long lasting repercussions.
Research shows that pain does not simply go away with rest and over the counter medication.
1990 study: More that 25% of individuals complained of “intrusive symptoms” and an additional 12% indicated that their neck pain and headaches were more severe years after their accident. 1
1993 study: Approximately 55% of patients have pain eight years after a rear-end collision. 2
1993 study: 64% of patients had joint related neck pain and 61% suffered from disc related neck pain following a whiplash injury. 3
1996 study: 70% of subject patients still had symptoms 15 years after they sustained injuries from motor vehicle collisions. 4
A 1989 study revealed that 62% of patients who had sustained whiplash type injuries had significant pain 10 to 15 years after the auto collision. 5
Why choose Chiropractic care?
Chiropractic care is a gentle, conservative and natural form of health care. The benefits of chiropractic care over other forms of treatment for soft tissue and musculoskeletal injuries have been revealed in multiple recent studies.
A 2007 study in the Journal of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons showed superior clinical outcomes are achieved with a combination of early mobilization, manipulation and exercise for post-traumatic whiplash.6
According to a 2002 study regarding acute neck pain, spinal adjustments had higher success rates (68.3%) than physical therapy (50.8%) and continued physician care (35.9%). Patients receiving spinal adjustments had fewer absences from work than patients receiving physical therapy or continued physician care.7
A 10 year study published in 1990 showed a significant, reliable, measurable advantage for chiropractic care over hospital outpatient management of back pain.8
Pip Coverage
In Washington, every insured motorist has coverage of at least $10,000 in Personal Injury Protection (PIP) included in their policy. Here are some important facts you need to know about PIP coverage:
- When using your PIP coverage there are no co-payments or deductibles.
- Your PIP coverage may be used up to three years after the date of your automobile accident.
- Under Washington state laws your insurance company cannot raise your premium rates or cancel your coverage because you use your PIP benefits, if you are not at fault.
- PIP is no-fault coverage that pays for all medical expenses that are “reasonable and necessary” including chiropractic and massage therapy.
References
1 M.F. Gargan and G.C. Bannister, Prognostic Factors in Soft Tissue Injuries of the Cervical Spine, Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery (Br.), Vol. 72B, 1990, pp. 901-903.
2 Parmar Raymakers R, Neck Injuries from Rear Impact Road Traffic Accidents: A Long-Term Clinical and Radiological Review, Injury, 24 (2), 1993, pp. 75-78.
3 Bogduk N., Aprill C., On the Nature of Neck Pain, Discography and Cervical Zygapophysial Joint Blocks, Pain, August 1993, 54 (2), pp. 213-217.
4 B. Squires, M.F. Gargan, G.C. Bannister, Soft Tissue Injuries of the Cervical Spine: a 15-year Follow-up, The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Vol. 778-B, No. 6, November 1996, pp. 955-957
5 S.P. Hodgson and M. Grundy, Whiplash Injuries: Their Long-Term Prognosis and Its Relationship to Compensation, Neuro-Orthopedics, Vol. 7, 1989, pp. 88-91.
6 Schofferman J, Bogduk N, Slosar P., Chronic Whiplash and Whiplash-Associated Disorders: An Evidence-Based Approach, Journal of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, October 2007, 15 (10), pp. 596-606.
7 Hoving JL, Koes BW, De Vet HCW, Van Der Windt DAWM, Assendelft WJJ, Van Mameren H, Deville WLJM, Pool JJM, Scholten RJPM, Bouter LM PhD, Manual Therapy, Physical Therapy, or Continued Care by a General Practitioner for Patients with Neck Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial, Annals of Internal Medecine, May 21, 2002, Vol. 136, No. 10, pp. 713-722.
8 T.W. Mead, S. Dyer, Low Back Pain of Mechanical Origin: Randomized Comparison of Chiropractic and Hospital Out-Patient Treatment, British Medical Journal, 1990, Vol. 300, pp. 1431-1437.