Have Seatbelts Reduced or Increased Injuries?

In 2016 alone, an estimated 14,668 lives were saved because of seatbelt use. There’s no denying mandated use of seatbelts reduced injuries and prevented deaths, particularly moderate to critical injury. Using a seatbelt can save your life, but can it exacerbate or even cause injuries?

Seatbelts, Reduced Injuries and Fewer Traffic Fatalities

It’s an unfortunate truth that car accidents are a leading cause of death among Americans aged 1-54. The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate more than half of teens and adults who died in automotive accidents in 2016 were not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident. More CDC data indicates seatbelts reduced injuries and traffic fatalities by about half.

While they can and do save lives often, it’s still important to note that some injuries can occur because the seatbelt is so effective in preventing ejection from the vehicle. When a seatbelt locks in the event of a crash, force is exerted on the chest, shoulder and neck, leading to seatbelt neck injury. This is particularly true of rear-end collisions, which is when most whiplash injuries occur. When your head strikes the seat’s headrest and is then rapidly forced into flexion.

At the moment of collision, the head is forced forward as the upper body is held in place by the seatbelt, which stops one shoulder from moving forward and causes the opposite side to pivot quickly. Ligaments, muscles and soft tissues can be injured throughout the neck, cervical spine and shoulder. Drivers and passengers are held safely within the vehicle rather than ejected, but painful saetblet related injuries can still occur.

HELP OF CHIROPRACTOR IN Recovery After a Car Accident

Immediately after a car accident, it’s important to be evaluated for serious injuries even if you feel fine. It’s not uncommon for the pain of whiplash and other injuries to present itself hours after an impact.

Even low-speed collisions can cause injury to the soft tissues and musculoskeletal system, which a qualified chiropractor can treat without prescriptions, surgery or other invasive procedures. This conservative approach to treatment can provide not only relief from pain, but also better spinal and whole-body health over the course of a treatment plan.

Soreness, stiffness and pain throughout the check, neck, back, shoulders and abdominal area can all be indicators of seatbelt injuries. Spinal manipulation therapy can address these injuries, along with subluxations and other conditions affecting the spine, muscles and skeletal system in the aftermath of an accident.

Effective chiropractic treatment is tailored to the unique needs of each individual and may be comprised of both in-clinic treatment and at-home exercises to speed recovery. Increased use of seatbelts reduced injuries of a more serious nature, but don’t always protect against painful conditions sustained during a collision. Don’t skip the seatbelt, just make sure you seek treatment for musculoskeletal pain and to address any spinal misalignments or subluxations, so you can recover more quickly, with less pain, greater mobility and a better quality of life in the days and weeks after a car crash.