Soft-tissue damage is quite common after you are involved in a Car Accident.
The amount of trauma your body absorbs from the rapid change in direction caused by a Car Accident causes a reaction known as muscle splinting.
Similar to putting a splint on broken fingers, our body reacts to violent motions by shutting down certain muscle groups, our nervous system goes into a fight or flight state, and our ligaments can become more relaxed.
With these injuries, pain, swelling, bruising, and loss of function are possible.
A person's range of motion can be significantly affected.
Our goal in this blog post is to share common soft tissue injuries following an Auto Accident, natural therapies you can do at home to help, and where you can get medical attention from an experienced Car Accident Injury Doctor if you are still experiencing pain.
Table of Contents
- What is a Soft Tissue?
- Common Soft Tissue Injuries
- Whiplash
- What Are Simple Treatments To Do Following A Car Accident?
- What If I Am Still Experiencing Severe Pain After the Car Accident?
What is a Soft Tissue?
Soft tissue refers to the body’s tissues that connect, support, or surround other structures and organs, excluding broken bones.
It includes muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia, nerves, fat, blood vessels, and other tissues.
Unlike bones, soft tissues are flexible and pliable, making them essential for movement, cushioning, and structural integrity.
Soft tissue injuries can cause great pain and discomfort, including soreness, swelling, bruising, and stiffness.
These types of injuries are common in motor vehicle accidents because of the impact of the collisions between vehicles.
There are two categories of Soft-Tissue Injuries that occur in the body: Acute and Chronic.
- This post discusses acute tissue injuries that occur immediately after an event like a car wreck or sports injury.
- Chronic injuries are long-lasting and can affect your activities or daily life.
Soft tissue plays a critical role in maintaining bodily function, from performing basic tasks like walking to more complex movements like sports.
Any injury or disorder affecting soft tissue can impact mobility, strength, and quality of life.
Common Soft Tissue Injuries
Soft tissue injuries are among some of the most common car accident injuries.
They affect muscles, ligaments, and tendons and can produce a wide range of symptoms.
Here are the most common types:
1. Whiplash
- Whiplash occurs when the neck is jerked back and forth rapidly, straining the muscles and ligaments in the neck.
- Common Symptoms: Sharp neck pain, stiffness, headaches, dizziness, and limited mobility.
2. Sprains
- Sprains happen when ligaments (the connective tissue between bones) are stretched or torn.
- Commonly affected areas: Ankles, wrists, and knees.
- Symptoms: Swelling, bruising, pain, and instability in the joint.
3. Strains
- Strains occur when muscles or tendons (the tissue connecting muscles to bones) are stretched or torn.
- Commonly affected areas: Lower back and shoulders.
- Symptoms: Damage to muscles, spasms, weakness, swelling, and pain.
4. Contusions (Bruises)
- Contusions are caused by a direct impact during the accident, damaging the soft tissue beneath the skin.
- Symptoms: Discoloration, swelling, tenderness, and mild pain.
5. Tendonitis
- Tendonitis is the inflammation of tendons due to overuse or sudden trauma during a collision.
- Symptoms: Pain, tenderness, and limited movement in the affected area.
6. Herniated or Bulging Discs
- While not strictly a soft tissue injury, herniated discs can occur when the spinal discs are damaged due to a collision. This can compress nerves and cause pain.
- Symptoms: Back pain, numbness, and tingling sensations in extremities.
7. Ligament Tears (e.g., ACL, MCL)
- High-impact accidents can tear ligaments, especially in the knees.
- Symptoms: Severe pain, instability, and difficulty moving the affected joint.
8. Bursitis
- Bursitis occurs when the small fluid-filled sacs (bursae) that cushion the joints become inflamed.
- Symptoms: Pain, redness, and swelling in joints such as shoulders, hips, and knees.
9. Rotator Cuff Injuries
- A common shoulder injury caused by the strain or tearing of tendons and muscles in the rotator cuff.
- Symptoms: Shoulder pain, weakness, and reduced range of motion.
10. Myofascial Pain Syndrome
- This chronic pain condition affects the connective tissue (fascia) surrounding muscles and may develop after trauma.
- Symptoms: Persistent muscle pain and sensitive trigger points.
Whiplash
Perhaps the most frequently occurring type of soft tissue injury is whiplash, especially after a car accident.
Whiplash is a soft tissue injury to the neck caused by forceful, rapid back-and-forth movement, similar to the cracking of a whip.
This soft tissue injury is most commonly caused in a rear-end collision.
But whiplash can also result from sports accidents, physical abuse, and other types of traumas, such as a fall. Whiplash may be called a neck sprain or strain, but these terms also include other types of neck injuries.
Most people with whiplash get better within a few weeks by following a treatment plan that includes chiropractic care and exercise.
However, some people may have chronic neck pain and other long-lasting complications.
Signs and symptoms of this type of injury usually develop within days of the accident and may include:
- Neck discomfort and stiffness
- Discomfort that worsens with neck movement
- Loss of range of motion in the neck
- Headaches, most often starting at the base of the skull
- Tenderness or discomfort in the shoulder, upper back or arms
- Tingling or numbness in the arms
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
After initial treatment, most people who have whiplash feel better within a few weeks and don't seem to have any lasting effects from their injuries as long as they see a chiropractor after their car crash.
However, some people continue to have complications for several months or years after the car crash occurred.
It is difficult to predict how each person with whiplash injuries may recover, and that's why you should always seek prompt treatment from an experienced chiropractor.
What Are Simple Treatments To Do Following A Car Accident?
Immediately following an accident, you should use the RICE method to take care any soft tissue strain.
The RICE method is as follows:
- Rest. The particular area that is in pain from soft-tissue injuries should be rested. Never try to overexert yourself after a traumatic injury has occurred.
- Ice. After soft tissue injuries, use cold packs for 20 minutes at a time, several times a day. Do not apply ice directly to the skin; instead, place a washcloth between your skin and the ice.
- Compression. To prevent additional swelling and blood loss, wear an elastic compression bandage or have somebody else apply a gentle compression force to the area.
- Elevation. To reduce swelling, elevate the soft tissue injuries higher than your heart while resting.
What If I Am Still Experiencing Severe Pain After the Car Accident?
Anytime you are involved in a Car Accident, you should seek Medical Attention to make sure your body is moving and operating the way it should.
If you are in Georgia or South Carolina, we invite you to any one of our Clinics.
At the Arrowhead Clinic, each new patient receives a free consultation.
During this free consultation, our expert chiropractors will perform a physical exam and review your medical history to design a treatment plan tailored to your needs.
Treatment options may include adjustments, exercises, physical therapy, and nutritional advice to help you fully recover from your soft tissue injury.
And, if you've been involved in a car wreck, we can also refer you to a personal injury attorney who can help with your personal injury claim if necessary.
An experienced personal injury lawyer will handle the legal process, including negotiations with the at-fault driver's insurance company, obtain your medical records, and make sure you receive a fair settlement for all of your medical expenses.
If you want to make sure you receive fair compensation for all of your losses, it's crucial to get the help of an accident attorney as soon as possible.
Our team of Accident Injury Chiropractors and Medical Doctors have been treating Car Accident Victims for 40 years.
If you need to speak with someone about your Soft-tissue injuries and accident claim, click the link below for a Free Consultation.
If you are concerned about the cost of returning your life to normal, read our blog post, How Much Does Medical Care and Legal Help Cost After a Car Accident?
Read our previous blog: A Team Approach to Help Car Accident Victims.
