What Constitutes a Chiropractic Emergency?

Most patients associate chiropractic care with a relaxing, comfortable environment. Chiropractic offices are actually designed specifically to be low-stress places, where patients can feel safe and secure. Don’t let this comfort fool you, though. Chiropractors put in real work to deliver relief to their patients, including emergency services when necessary.

While emergency chiropractic care may not seem significant, the amount of time that passes between an incident involving the spinal column and chiropractic treatment could make a substantial impact on long-term health. That’s why Ideal Spine encourages chiropractors to instill a sense of urgency in patients who may be prone to suffering pinched nerves, soft tissue damage, and other spine-related injuries.

Seeking chiropractic care directly after an incident can drastically improve recovery expectations in many cases. Additionally, chiropractic care can play a big role in alleviating pain and discomfort after an injury occurs.

When to recommend emergency treatment

If you’re a chiropractic practitioner, you may be wondering what types of symptoms and incidents warrant emergency care for your patients. While it’s always best to use your professional and medical training to make informed, case-by-case decisions on treatment, there are several incidents and symptom sets requiring nothing short of emergency chiropractic:

• Sports injuries: Sports injuries create serious types of spinal trauma for patients. Many sports (like football) involve frequent collisions, causing long-term damage to the head and the cervical spine. Injuries to the spine, particularly the cervical spine, can cause long-term discomfort and neurological problems if left untreated. Slipped discs are another common sports injury requiring immediate treatment.
• Acute neck and back pain: Sudden, acute back or neck pain may be the result of a slipped or damaged disc. Not only is this experience extremely uncomfortable, it could lead to other health concerns if not treated in a short period of time. Providing your patient with emergency care can help ensure they don’t suffer unnecessarily or develop related conditions. Dislocation and subluxation are also causes of acute back and neck pain and shouldn’t be ignored.
• Car accidents: Anyone that’s been a car accident, even a minor fender-bender, should seek chiropractic care within 24 hours. Car accidents are known to cause whiplash, which can cause lifelong discomfort if not treated adequately. Even if your patient has only been involved in a minor traffic incident, make sure to provide them with emergency chiropractic care. It may minimize the symptoms of whiplash when they manifest, sometimes days or weeks after the incident.

Providing your patients with emergency care can set your practice apart and improve patient outcomes. While it may require flexibility on your behalf, it ensures you’re able to provide each patient with the immediate care and preventive attention they deserve.

Tailored treatment in an emergency

Even in the event of emergency chiropractic, individualized patient care should never take a back seat. It’s why Chiropractic BioPhysics (CBP) is so beneficial.

Chiropractic BioPhysics improves patient outcomes through tailored, patient-specific adjustments. Even for emergency issues, care is uncompromised. To learn more about the latest techniques and technologies that are improving patient care in the chiropractic industry, visit the next Chiropractic BioPhysics seminar near you.

Chiropractic BioPhysics^® corrective care trained Chiropractors are located throughout the United States and in several international locations. CBP providers have helped thousands of people throughout the world realign their spine back to health, and eliminate a source of chronic back pain, chronic neck pain, chronic headaches and migraines, fibromyalgia, and a wide range of other health conditions. If you are serious about your health and the health of your loved ones, contact a CBP trained provider today to see if you qualify for care. The exam and consultation are often FREE. See www.CBPpatient.com for providers in your area.