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Doctor-Approved Activities to Promote Post-Accident Healing

Depending on the severity of the accident, it can take your body anywhere from a few days to a few months to fully recover from the damages and injuries. Chiropractic care and physical therapy are a great step in the right direction, but there are many at-home activities you can pair with your sessions to speed up the healing process. Here are a few activities approved by the experts at Impact Medical Miami.

Walking

Perhaps the most simple and accessible activity that most people can take part in is walking. Even if it’s just around the block, you can help your body in a number of ways just by getting up and moving your feet. Depending on your personal condition and physical limits, you can adapt your outing by adjusting your speed and distance to challenge your body at just the right amount. Walking helps your body after your visit to the chiropractor by:

• Circulating your blood
• Promoting muscle movement
• Building on muscle strength
• Maintaining physical endurance

Walking upwards either by stairs or hills is a great way to further challenge yourself and shape up your body. All of these methods prove that you don’t need to run a marathon as long as you’re creative enough to spice up your walk.

Practicing Good Posture

Most people suffer from poor posture and it’s a major reason why the results of chiropractic care aren’t able to reach their full potential. No matter how many times you visit your chiropractor, continuing to slouch every time you sit will negate or even reverse your efforts. It can be especially difficult to maintain good posture after enduring an accident, but being aware of your body and taking gradual steps to better yourself will be worth it.

Yoga

Regular yoga sessions can help with your posture and assist your body by other means. Yoga involves focusing on your body from the inside out so you can become aware of how you feel in certain areas. For example, you’re more likely to notice a tightness in your shoulder so you can perform stretches to loosen up that specific area. The stillness and mindfulness that comes with yoga can help relax your body and get in the stretches that you need to ensure full healing after seeing a chiropractor.

Meditating

Meditation usually comes side-by-side with yoga practices and is incredibly beneficial to your mental health which has a domino effect on your physical health. By dedicating a moment of peace and quiet to reflect on how you feel in both mind and body, you’ll be nurturing your mental health thus reducing stress which can help you loosen your muscles. There’s a great list of different meditation types, but simply focusing on your breathing is a great place to start and is still very effective.

Dieting

Believe it or not, what you eat has a great impact on your healing journey after receiving chiropractic care. Eating sugary or processed foods can flare up pain and inflammation and the increased weight of taking in too many calories can wear on your spine. Your diet should consist of nutrient-rich foods that can help different aspects of your body and pave the way for smooth healing.

Nutrient	Healing Effects
Protein	Muscle recovery
Calcium	Muscle strength
Vitamin D	Back pain relief
Vitamin B6	Scoliosis Prevention
Antioxidants	Body cleansing
Fiber and amino acids	Recovery rate boost
Water	Reduced pain and inflammation

Resting

Sometimes, it’s what you don’t do that can help you. Exercising and stretching in moderation are essential to coaxing your body back into shape after an accident, but resting is just as important. Your body needs time to process all of the work that’s done through a full night’s sleep. Your body won’t be able to fully recover if you don’t give it the time to do so.

Start the Recovery Process. Call Impact Medical Miami!

Getting back a functional body after enduring an accident is possible through chiropractic care and physical therapy. Begin your healing journey by calling the professionals at Impact Medical Miami at (786) 933-7030! By visiting us and practicing these at-home techniques, you’ll feel back to your normal self in no time.

Does PIP Cover Injuries for Non-Motorists Involved in Accidents?

Florida in the springtime. The sun is shining, people are out and about – it’s easy to get distracted by this beautiful weather. But sometimes, distractions can lead to accidents. If you were a non-motorist involved in an accident, what are your rights? Impact Medical of St. Petersburg takes a closer look at what pedestrians and cyclists should know.

Florida is one of the twelve states, in fact, the largest, that require Personal Injury Protection (PIP). Because Florida mandates PIP, it is also a no-fault state, which means the insurance provider is required to cover the costs of the policyholder’s injuries in an automobile accident, regardless of who is at fault. All Floridian drivers are required to have PIP insurance of $10,000 which helps cover both drivers and passengers in the event of an accident. This standard form of car insurance covers common expenses after a car accident occurs, regardless of who is responsible. Generally, it is used to pay for medical bills, legal fees, lost wages, and other critical expenses of those involved. However, it’s important to note that PIP does not cover costs associated with ambulance services, diagnostic and/or surgical procedures, medication, or rehab costs.

If you were a non-motorist or a pedestrian in the accident, are you covered by PIP? In most cases, yes. As an individual injured in a motor vehicle accident, your PIP insurance should allow you the medical care you need for recovery. As stated by Florida Statutes, insurers will pay PIP benefits if you were struck by a motor vehicle and suffer any bodily injury but will not if you were an occupant in a self-propelled vehicle.

Additionally, Florida legislation states that you only have two weeks to seek treatment for accident injuries for PIP claims to be eligible. A serious injury like whiplash may not show up immediately so it’s important to see medical treatment as soon as possible. At Impact Medical of St. Petersburg, we understand that the care you receive after an accident is vital, even as a non-motorist.

If you’re experiencing pain from an auto accident, call (727) 722-8103 or send a message to speak with the team at Impact Medical Group in St. Petersburg. Our team of professionals will evaluate and treat your injuries with a customized care plan that will fit your needs.

Here’s How an Accident Can Affect Your Muscles

In the days following a car accident, you’ll likely feel aches and pains from injuries that might not have been apparent at the time of the accident. If you are suffering from muscle pain, it is important to learn if you are experiencing muscle soreness versus a muscle injury after your accident.

That’s where our team at Impact Medical Wesley Chapel comes in! If you have recently suffered a car accident, learn how to distinguish between muscle soreness and a serious injury.

We’ll discuss how an accident can affect your muscles, how muscle injuries are treated, and how physical therapy can prevent chronic pain. Let’s go!

How Long Should Soreness Last After an Accident?

Depending on the severity of the accident and the injuries sustained, most car accident victims feel sore for up to six weeks after a car accident. Of course, this will vary depending on:

• Any pre-existing injuries or conditions
• Your position inside the vehicle
• The speed and severity of the collision
• The size of the vehicles involved
• The diagnosis from a doctor
• Whether you were wearing a seatbelt

Common Causes of Muscle Pain and Soreness

There are over 600 muscles, 900 ligaments, and 4,000 tendons in your body. That’s a lot of soft tissues, and any one of them can be damaged in a car accident.

The most common cause of muscle pain and soreness after an accident is due to overstretching and tearing, also called a muscle strain. The sudden impact of a car accident can cause muscle fibers to tear, causing swelling and inflammation at the injury site.

Inflammation then irritates the nerves surrounding the muscle fibers, causing pain, burning, or tingling. Keep in mind that inflammation can take a few days to develop, which is why some muscle injury symptoms can take 24-49 hours to appear.

Common Muscle Injuries

A car accident can cause a range of damage to your muscles, which are most commonly referred to as soft tissue injuries. These can include:

• Bruises and contusions: Mild soft tissue damage caused by the rupture of blood capillaries beneath the skin’s surface.
• Strains and sprains: Injuries caused by the tearing of muscles and ligaments
• Whiplash: A type of neck injury caused by the stretching and tearing of some of all of the muscles, ligaments, and tendons in the spine.
• Airbag or seat belt injuries: Compression injuries are often caused by airbags or seat belts that restrict the soft tissues in the chest and abdomen.
• Joint injuries: Broken or displaced bones in a joint can often be accompanied by a torn muscle or ligament that has pulled the joint out of place. Common in spinal injuries.

Treating Muscle Soreness

Soreness is normal after the trauma that your body experienced in a car accident. However, muscle aches and fatigue should never be ignored. If you are experiencing sore muscles after an accident, you should visit a doctor to ensure that you don’t have any severe injuries.

Physical therapy may not always be a requirement after an accident, but it is quite beneficial to help your muscles start to heal. Physical therapy can be used to help with the stiffness and limited range of motion that accompany many injuries sustained in a car accident. Ultimately, it will help you build back muscle healthily and safely.

Manual therapy can also be beneficial to healing muscles as it can help reduce tension and inflammation in your muscles while they heal. If you are experiencing back pain in conjunction with your muscle soreness, chiropractic adjustments may be prescribed by your doctor.

Bottom line? Physical therapy can help prevent long-term damage that can occur due to muscle injuries such as chronic pain and migraines, allowing you to live a pain-free life.

Say Goodbye to Muscle Soreness

If you have been in a car accident and are experiencing any kind of muscle soreness, you should seek treatment as soon as possible. Our team at Impact Medical Wesley Chapel can create a treatment plan that includes manual, physical therapy, or chiropractic adjustments to get you on the road to healing today.

Say goodbye to muscle soreness and call Impact Medical Wesley Chapel to schedule an appointment today; (813) 953-1002!

Should I See a Chiropractor For Anxiety Treatment?

Over the last few years, the pandemic has shone quite a spotlight on mental health and amplified the conversation around different types of treatment. If you’re one of the more than 40 million Americans experiencing anxiety, chiropractic treatment may be a great arrow to add to your quiver. Because chiropractors focus on health holistically, methods of treatment include natural and safe techniques that ensure wellness circulates through both body and mind. Impact Medical Group of Clearwater explores what you can expect from the amazing benefits of chiropractic care for anxiety.

Common anxiety, and sometimes depression, symptoms include sleeplessness, muscle tension and/or stiffness, headaches, and restlessness. Chiropractic care works to alleviate the above physical symptoms which can cause a ripple effect on your mental state. When you receive a proper chiropractic adjustment, not only is your spine impacted but all systems in your body feel a release of hormones. Three hormones, in particular, can positively affect your mental health. Cortisol blocks out any pain caused by inflammation. Oxytocin can improve communication and increase social bonding. Lastly, Neurotensin helps neutralize pain that is brought on by stress. When this hormonal trifecta is triggered, you may begin to feel better.

Sleeplessness is another anxiety symptom that can benefit from chiropractic adjustment. By aligning the spine and addressing pain that might make sleeping difficult, patients can achieve a deeper sleep after adjustments. A good night’s sleep can help improve concentration, focus, and mood.

Anxiety-driven tension often causes muscle tension or tightness. Sometimes, it can manifest in headaches or migraines. Chiropractors are well versed in adjustments that alleviate headache pain. Because the spine holds up the neck and head, relief is often achieved through proper spinal adjustments.

Are you interested in learning more about chiropractic care for your anxiety? Our team at Impact Medical Group Clearwater is a progressive, multi-disciplinary medical practice dedicated to improving the overall health, happiness and well-being of our community. Give us a call at (727) 292-0200 to make an appointment today!