Why do we minimize pain? It seems that no matter the situation, from truly minor to extremely major, we brush it off and move on as if nothing happened. Watch any sporting event and observe how players experience serious physical contact yet get right back in the game again. Or the people on the side of the road after a car accident, declining the trip to the emergency room because they “feel fine.” Feeling fine does not mean our body is fine. If that was the case, then we would know the moment a cancer cell becomes a threat to our health.

A police officer was referred to DCW after experiencing a minor crash during a high speed chase that he walked away from. On the surface he appeared uninjured. Yes, there is no immediate trauma that requires emergency attention; however, what about the micro-trauma inside the body from the impact?

The average car weighs 4,000 pounds, or 2-tons. In the case of the cop, he was pursuing a suspect in his car and traveling fast. This energy of motion is called kinetic energy. The faster the motion the higher the energy. While there are many safety features in a car to protect us like seat belts, air bags, and shatterproof glass, we are still delicate flesh traveling inside a metal container. Upon impact, the car is designed to absorb as much kinetic energy as possible. However, the faster the car is moving the less time the car has to absorb the energy. So, where does it go then? To us. Our body absorbs it.

To ensure that our body is functioning as it should after any car accident, a visit to the chiropractor is a must. Why? Because symptoms may not present themselves until several weeks later. Minor misalignment in the spine can affect different parts of the body and can cause significant problems later on. Be proactive and see your chiropractor after a car accident, no matter how minor. This approach will save you unnecessary pain and suffering, not to mention money.