Seatbelts and airbags save lives every day, but there’s a trade-off. They can also cause various musculoskeletal injuries. In this guide, our team at Health Restoration & HR Pain Management share some of the most common injuries.
Shoulder injuries – especially dislocations – are common auto accident injuries. Typically, it’s caused by the force with which your shoulder hits the seatbelt, but it can also be caused by the airbag.
Both the airbag and the seatbelt are designed to hold you in a safer place if a car accident occurs. This is a good thing, as it can keep you alive and save you from more serious injuries if you were ever ejected from the car. However, as it means your body is stopped suddenly with a great amount of force, it can easily lead to injury and misalignment in the neck, back, and extremities.
Herniated discs are also commonly caused by misalignments and the forces generated in a car crash. Therefore, if you experience a misalignment due to a car accident, there is a chance you can also develop a herniated disc. It can either occur during the accident or after if the misalignment is not addressed.
The airbag and seatbelt hold most of your body in place. However, some components continue moving, and this continued movement can cause very painful injuries in your neck, back, shoulder and hips. For example, the seatbelt might hold your upper body in place, but your neck will still move forward to some degree. If your airbag does not deploy, it will move even farther. Unfortunately, this can lead to sprained and strained muscle, tendons and ligaments and – in many cases results in “whiplash”.
If you’ve been in a car accident, it’s vital to visit a highly qualified healthcare team as soon as possible. Leaving an auto accident injury unaddressed can lead to chronic pain, discomfort, and even permanent damage. Give our team at Health Restoration & HR Pain Management a call today at (303) 635-2273.
Stay updated with the latest blog posts and engage with our community.
Your Trusted Choice for Physical Therapy and Wellness!
