ChiroCare of FloridaSuffering a fall is a terrible experience. In addition to the painful injuries you may receive, you often become disorientated and dazed for several minutes following the fall.
Once you've got a clear head, pain begins to set in. It's at that moment that you're left wondering, "What should I do now?" We highly recommend seeking slip and fall injury treatment right away. At ChiroCare of Florida, we've prepared a checklist of treatment options for you. In order to receive the best full body chiropractic adjustment after a fall, always make sure to seek medical attention immediately.
1. Diagnose Injuries
When you've first suffered a fall, injuries such as cuts and abrasions will show themselves immediately. However, if you're suffering from an injury beneath the surface, you may not realize it until severe pain has set in up to 24 hours later.
Common injuries from a fall include:
- Fractured and broken bones
- Cuts, wounds, bruises, and abrasions
- Soft tissue injuries, such as sprains, strains, and tears
- Head injuries/concussions
- Spinal cord injuries
- Whiplash
A ChiroCare of Florida chiropractor can request a variety of imaging testing to diagnose your injuries, including X-rays, MRIs, and CT scans. It is essential to diagnose any injuries you have prior to treatment, that way we can assure your chosen therapies will evoke wellness and healing for the whole body.
2. Electric Stimulation Therapy
Electric Stimulation therapy, otherwise known as E-stim, is an effective treatment for treating a variety of injuries. E-stim therapy involves placing small electrodes on the skin above the injured area. These electrodes will then be used to pass minor electrical impulses into the injured muscle or tendon. The impulses will cause the muscle to contract and relax repeatedly, which leads to a final state of fatigue.
Though fatigue may sound like a bad thing, it is actually quite the opposite. For those that have been left with muscle spasms or tension in their muscles after a fall, this state of fatigue will relieve the constant state of stress and pain they are experiencing.
3. Heat and Cold Therapy
Heat and cold therapy are proven effective in alleviating pain and promoting healing in patients that have suffered injuries. Heat therapy can help relax tense muscles and alleviate pain, as well as decrease the muscle spasms that may have as a result of their injuries.
4. Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Manual Therapy
Also known as simply IASTM, Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Manual Therapy is useful in rearranging soft tissue after it has been affected by trauma. This can be considered in the case of muscle strains, sprains, tears, and other serious injuries to muscles, tendons, and ligaments. IASTM is also very useful in the case of whiplash, which is common if you've fallen from a great height or experienced your fall while bike riding, horseback riding, or on a stairwell.
At ChiroCare of Florida, we utilize the Graston Technique, which is an evidence-backed treatment that is proven to promote better and faster healing. The Graston Technique allows our chiropractors to not place an excess amount of pressure on the spine while still assisting damaged tissue, resulting in alleviated pain.
5. Physical Therapy
Falls can be very hard on your body. If you've experienced a broken bone or fractured bone, you might have been told to not place pressure on the area while mobile. While this is sound advice, this altered pattern of movement is likely to disrupt your posture.
Posture problems can drastically exacerbate present injuries. By receiving physical therapy, a trained professional can assist you in retraining your body to move in a way that will not harm your injury or your posture. Likewise, properly exercising injured areas during and after healing is crucial to a full recovery.
6. Massage Therapy
Suffering a fall is a painful and stressful experience. Massage therapy can safely and effectively remove muscle tension, as well as stretch the joints to increase the range of motion. For those who have suffered whiplash, spinal injury, soft tissue injuries, or broken bones, massage therapy can help strengthen muscles, improve posture, and help realign any spinal damage.
7. Chiropractic Adjustments
It goes without saying that chiropractic adjustments are beneficial for way more than just your back. But, we will emphasize that after a fall, an adjustment is a can't-miss treatment to boost healing and alleviate pain. Subtle manipulations can stimulate the restoration of normal movement, improve affected posture, and decompress the spine to eliminate pain in the back, neck, shoulders, or other parts of the body that have been affected.
8. Continue Care at Home
Following a fall, your treatment should not stop just because you've left the ChiroCare of Florida office. There are several treatment techniques you can practice at home to promote healing and lessen pain.
- Take a warm bath with Epsom salt. This will relax muscles and help with inflammation.
- Apply ice or a cold towel to the affected area. Never place the cold substance directly on the skin. Instead, wrap the ice in a washcloth. This process will continue to reduce pain and swelling.
- Apply pressure to areas of swelling. Hold a pillow tightly to your body to help reduce inflammation.
- Take pain relievers. Over-the-counter pain relievers that contain anti inflammatory properties, such as ibuprofen, can help alleviate pain safely and without the need for narcotics.
- Rest. Your body needs time to heal, and rest as much as possible.
If you want to know how to recover after a fall, it's important to put your health first. Visit a ChiroCare of Florida office today to assure you properly treat any injuries you may have sustained.
