Soft tissue injuries are some of the most common car accident injuries, but many people tend to think of them as “just run-of-the-mill soreness.” A soft tissue injury is any damage done to the body’s soft tissues, like muscles, fascia, tendons, and ligaments. Injuries including bruises, contusions, stretched muscles, facial injuries, stretched and torn ligaments, and sprains are all associated with soft tissues. Unfortunately, these injuries are not only painful, but they can be long-lasting.

When you have pain or soreness in your muscles, the natural response is to refrain from moving that area of the body, but most soft tissue injuries benefit from gentle stretching and movement. A chiropractic adjustment can help restore your body to its full range of motion.

There’s no doubt that seat belts are lifesavers (and you should always wear one when you’re in the car!), but the very thing that makes them so safe can also cause joint misalignments. When one part of your body is held still while another part is thrust forward (or backward or to the side …), it can cause those joints to slip out of alignment.

Joint misalignments (also known as “subluxations”) can present as pain, decreased range of motion, numbness, tingling, weakness, or even dizziness/vertigo. Many times the symptoms aren’t felt at the exact location of the subluxation, but travel to other areas of the body.

Of course, the best way to treat a misalignment of the spine or other joints is a chiropractic adjustment to move the joints back into place. Once proper alignment has been restored, the secondary symptoms should start to diminish.

Presented as a service to the community by: Union County Chiropractic Clinic, 110 Skyline Drive, Maynardville, TN (865) 992-7000 www.unioncountychiropractic.com