Car accident injuries are among some of the most common conditions that send patients to the chiropractic office. If you have ever been injured in a car accident, you know that it is normal to be very sore following the collision -- especially if you suffer from some of the most common accident injuries.

• Whiplash - You are more likely to suffer from whiplash after an accident if you were hit head-on or from behind, although neck injuries are common in all types of collisions. Left untreated, whiplash can grow increasingly painful and cause motion range limitations.

• Herniated Disc - The discs that separate vertebrae in the spine can become compressed and bulge out when the natural alignment of the spine is affected by an auto accident. This condition is called a herniated disc, and can cause severe back pain, numbness, and tingling in the lower back, hips and thighs.

Here at Touch Stone Rehabilitation and Health Center, our Staten Island chiropractor and his team are committed to helping auto accident victims recover and return to normal day-to-day activities free of pain and discomfort. We believe that the body is capable of healing itself when equipped to do so, which is why we use natural, non-invasive holistic treatment to facilitate that healing.

Have you ever been injured in an auto accident? If so, did you seek chiropractic treatment?

• Pay attention at intersections. Nearly one in four accidents occurs at an intersection. Look both ways before crossing any intersection, even if you have the right-of-way.

• Maintain your vehicle. Be sure to replace old tires, faulty brakes and wiper blades, as well as be aware of any recalls you may have. You could prevent a malfunction that could cause a serious accident.

Despite your efforts to avoid an auto accident, some collisions are simply unavoidable. Should you still become injured in a car accident, know that you do not have to resort to surgical or other invasive means of treating a musculoskeletal injury. Instead, consider holistic treatment, such as chiropractic, massage therapy, acupuncture or physical therapy. Each of these treatments facilitate a natural healing process over the course of several weeks or months following an accident, and they work even better when used together to treat the same condition.

Have you ever visited a chiropractor for car accident or work-related injuries?

Few athletes can train and compete completely unscathed by an occasional sports injury. In the world of sports, it is quite common to hear of athletes being sidelined for weeks, and even whole seasons, due to injuries sustained in a game or practice. Although sports injuries can affect any area of the body, certain conditions are more common in athletes than others.

Obviously, the type of injury an athlete may be prone to depends on the type of activity he or she participates in. For example, baseball pitchers commonly experience shoulder injuries, such as torn rotator cuffs or over-extended elbows. On the other hand, a soccer or runner may suffer from shin splints or sprained ankles. Other examples of common sports injuries include neck injuries, dislocated joints, knee problem, foot injuries and injuries that affect the arms and legs.

How Our Staten Island Chiropractor Can Help

At our Staten Island clinic, we treat a lot of sports injuries. Our chiropractor believes that the body has the ability to heal itself, so long as it is equipped with the means to do so. In other words, sitting aside and waiting for injuries to heal could just lead to further complications, scar tissue and an inability to continue to participate in sports in the future. It is important that injured athletes visit our clinic as soon as possible following an accident to accelerate the healing process.

Not only do we use chiropractic treatments to manipulate the joints and spine into their proper alignment, but we also utilize physical therapy to help stiff or sore muscles gain better motion range and to help patients better manage pain. Physical therapy also includes a number of at-home exercises customized for the patient between visits. When performed correctly and as instructed, the home exercises help patients make faster progress than they would with chiropractic treatment alone.

Have you ever been injured playing a sport? How did the injury affect your ability to be active?