If you were just in a crash, you are probably running a checklist in your head: the other driver's insurance, the tow, the rental, the missed work. What you may not be doing is listing what hurts. That is a normal reaction, and it is exactly why the injuries from a collision so often get described late and described vaguely.
This guide walks through the car accident injuries a chiropractor most often evaluates, what each one tends to feel like, what the research says about it, and which symptoms mean you should go to the emergency room before you come to see us. It is written for patients in Bowie and across Prince George's County, but the biology is the same anywhere.
One note before we start. A chiropractor evaluates the neck, spine, and the muscles and joints around them. We do not diagnose a concussion, read an X-ray in place of a radiologist, or replace an emergency evaluation. When something is outside our lane, we say so and send you to the right place.
Why Collisions Injure Soft Tissue Even When the Car Looks Fine
In a crash, your car stops abruptly, but your body does not stop at the same instant. Your torso is held by the seat and belt while your head and neck keep moving, then snap back the other way. The muscles, ligaments, and joint capsules in your neck and back absorb that sudden load.
Most of what results is soft-tissue injury: muscle strain, ligament sprain, and irritation of the small joints along the spine. Soft tissue does not show up on a standard X-ray, which is why a clean X-ray at urgent care does not always mean nothing is wrong. A review of whiplash in Current Treatment Options in Rheumatology notes that whiplash remains a clinical diagnosis, because imaging has not been able to consistently identify the source of the pain.
Symptoms are also frequently delayed. Adrenaline, shock, and the sheer distraction of a crash can mask pain for hours or days. If you are reading this because you feel "mostly fine" a day after the accident, our guide on how long after a car accident you should see a chiropractor covers the timing question in more detail, and our post on delayed whiplash symptoms explains why the pain often arrives late.
Whiplash: The Injury Most People Have Heard Of
Whiplash is the umbrella term for a neck injury caused by sudden acceleration and deceleration of the head and neck. The 2016 clinical practice guideline published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics defines it as an injury to the neck that occurs with sudden acceleration or deceleration of the head and neck, typically during motor vehicle collisions.
What whiplash can feel like
People describe a wide range of symptoms. The Teasell review lists neck pain or stiffness, arm pain and pins-and-needles, jaw (temporomandibular) pain, headache, visual disturbances, memory and concentration problems, and psychological distress. You do not need all of these. A stiff neck that is worse when you turn to check your blind spot is enough to warrant an evaluation.
How whiplash is graded
Clinicians commonly use the Quebec Task Force grading, which sorts whiplash-associated disorders by severity. Grades I and II involve neck pain and stiffness or tenderness, with or without reduced range of motion. Grade III adds neurological signs, such as weakness or changes in reflexes. Grade IV involves a fracture or dislocation, which is an emergency. The Canadian Chiropractic Guidelines cover whiplash Grades I to III only after appropriate safety screening, and they leave out suspected fracture, instability, and concussion entirely. That is a big reason we screen first.
What the guidelines say about care
The 2016 guideline makes separate recommendations for whiplash and for other neck pain. For recent whiplash (the first three months, Grades I to III), it suggests multimodal care over education alone, where multimodal care may combine manual therapy such as joint mobilization and soft-tissue techniques with education and exercise. For whiplash that has lasted longer than three months (Grades I and II), it suggests supervised exercise with advice, or advice alone, depending on the patient's preference and resources.
For recent neck pain that did not come from a whiplash-type injury, the same guideline suggests manipulation or mobilization based on patient preference. The trial behind that recommendation found no statistically significant difference between the two, so we do not present one technique as the only answer.
The Canadian Chiropractic Guidelines are similarly measured: active care comes first, and mobilization, spinal manipulation, and soft-tissue work are offered as adjuncts to it. They also note that no single positional or pre-manipulative test can exclude vascular problems, which is part of why we take a careful history and exam before any hands-on care.
Neck and Upper Back Strain
Not every neck injury is labeled whiplash. Muscle strain in the neck, upper trapezius, and the muscles between the shoulder blades is extremely common after a crash. The pattern is usually a deep ache, tightness that comes and goes, and trouble turning your head fully to one side.
Because the upper back and neck share muscles and joints, we evaluate the thoracic spine alongside the cervical spine. A neck that has lost motion can pull the mid-back into compensating, and the reverse is also true.
Lower Back Pain After a Crash
The lower back takes load when your body is pressed into the seat on impact, and when your seat belt holds your pelvis while your torso moves. Patients describe an ache across the belt line, stiffness when getting out of the car, or pain that is worse after sitting.
Lower back pain after a crash can come from strained muscles, irritated joints in the lumbar spine or sacroiliac joints, or a disc that has been loaded abruptly. We assess movement, joint motion, and nerve function to see which tissues are involved. If you have leg weakness, numbness in the groin or inner thighs, or any change in bladder or bowel control, that is an emergency. Go to the ER.
The short version: it is worth getting looked at early rather than waiting for it to "just go away."
Headaches After a Car Accident
Headaches are one of the most common complaints we hear after a crash, and there is more than one possible source. Some are tension-type headaches driven by tight neck and upper-back muscles. Some come from irritated joints in the upper neck, often called cervicogenic headaches, which tend to start at the base of the skull. And some are a sign of a head injury.
That last category is the one to take seriously. MedlinePlus, from the National Library of Medicine, notes that some head-injury symptoms may not occur right away and can show up a few days or weeks later. Symptoms of a milder head injury or concussion can include headache, confusion or trouble concentrating, drowsiness, nausea and vomiting, light sensitivity, and sleep changes.
A chiropractor can evaluate neck-related contributors to headache, but we cannot rule out a brain injury. If you hit your head, lost consciousness, or have confusion or memory gaps, get a medical evaluation first.
Shoulder, Hip, and Rib Strain From the Seat Belt and Steering Wheel
Seat belts save lives, and the forces they manage can still leave their mark. A belt crosses your collarbone, shoulder, chest, and hip, and those areas can be sore, bruised, and strained afterward. Gripping the steering wheel at impact can strain the shoulder, wrist, and forearm.
Soreness across the chest, ribs, or abdomen needs medical clearance first. Chest and abdominal pain after a crash can have causes a chiropractor does not evaluate, so we ask you to get checked at an ER or urgent care before care with us.
Once those have been cleared, we can look at the joints and muscles around the shoulder girdle, ribs, and pelvis that may be involved.
Numbness and Tingling in the Arms or Legs
Pins and needles, numbness, or shooting pain into an arm or leg can mean a nerve is irritated. In the neck, that can come from a joint or disc affecting a nerve root. In the low back, it can show up as pain down the leg.
Mild, intermittent tingling is worth evaluating soon. Progressive weakness, a hand or foot that will not respond normally, or numbness that is spreading calls for urgent medical attention. We would rather you go to the ER and have it turn out to be minor than wait.
Jaw Pain and Dizziness
Jaw pain (temporomandibular joint pain) and dizziness both appear on the list of symptoms associated with whiplash. They are also on the list of symptoms that can signal other conditions, including head injury, so they deserve a proper history and exam. If dizziness comes with a severe headache, vision change, slurred speech, or weakness, treat it as an emergency.
Red Flags: Go to the ER First
Chiropractic is not a substitute for emergency care. Go to the ER or call 911 if you have any of the following after a crash. These follow the MedlinePlus list of emergency head-injury symptoms, plus the usual spinal red flags:
- A headache that is getting worse or does not get better
- Weakness on one or both sides of the body, or numbness that is spreading
- Seizures
- Repeated vomiting
- Slurred speech, or trouble walking or talking
- Pupils that are not equal in size, or double or blurred vision
- Confusion that does not go away
- Loss of consciousness, or drowsiness that makes you hard to wake
- Loss of bladder or bowel control
- Severe chest or abdominal pain
If any of these apply, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department. We will be here after you are cleared.
What We Do at a First Visit
A first visit after a crash is mostly a conversation and an exam. We ask how the accident happened, where you hurt, what has changed since, and what you have already had checked. We look at posture, range of motion, joint movement, muscle tone, and nerve function in the arms and legs.
From there, we explain what we found in plain language, whether care with us is appropriate, and what a reasonable plan looks like. If something needs imaging or a referral, we say so. Care, when appropriate, is designed to support movement and comfort and is guided by your goals and what the exam shows.
We also keep clear notes about what you report and what we find, which helps you and your other providers keep a consistent record. We do not value claims or promise outcomes, and questions about coverage belong with your insurer or attorney. If you want to know how Maryland personal injury protection works, see our post on Maryland PIP insurance and chiropractic care.
Why It Helps to Be Seen Early
Soft-tissue injuries often feel manageable at first and then get louder as the adrenaline fades. Being evaluated early gives you a baseline, a clearer picture of what is involved, and a chance to catch red flags early. It also gives you a plan you can follow instead of guessing.
For many patients, the biggest benefit is simply knowing what they are dealing with. Our post on what to do after a car accident in Bowie, MD lays out the first 48 hours, and chiropractic care after a rear-end collision covers the most common type of crash we see.
Car Accident Chiropractor in Bowie, MD
Total Wellness Chiropractic is on Laurel Bowie Road, a short drive from US-50, MD-197 (Collington Road), and US-301. Many of our post-crash patients are Prince George's County drivers who travel those roads every day. We see patients from Bowie, Crofton, Mitchellville, Glenn Dale, Upper Marlboro, Lanham, and Largo, and we are comfortable with the questions that come up after a Prince George's County crash.
You can browse the conditions we see and the services we offer before you call.
Frequently Asked Questions
What injuries does a chiropractor evaluate after a car accident?
Chiropractors commonly evaluate neck and back strain, whiplash-type neck injuries, tension and neck-related headaches, and joint and muscle soreness in the shoulders, ribs, and pelvis. We also screen for red flags that need emergency or medical care.
Can a car accident cause injuries that do not show up right away?
Yes. Soft-tissue symptoms can be delayed by hours or days, and MedlinePlus notes that some head-injury symptoms may not show up for a few days or weeks. If something feels off a day or two later, it is still worth being checked.
Will an X-ray show a whiplash injury?
Not always. Whiplash is a clinical diagnosis, and imaging has not consistently identified the source of the pain. A normal X-ray rules out some problems, such as a fracture, but it does not mean the soft tissue is uninjured.
Should I go to the ER or a chiropractor first?
If you have any red-flag symptom, such as a worsening headache, confusion, weakness, loss of bladder or bowel control, or chest or abdominal pain, go to the ER first. For neck and back stiffness without red flags, a chiropractic evaluation is a reasonable next step.
Is chiropractic care safe after a car accident?
A careful history and exam come first. The Canadian Chiropractic Guidelines note that no single test excludes vascular problems, so we screen before any hands-on care and adjust the plan to what we find. Individual results may vary.
How many visits will I need?
It depends on what the exam shows and how you respond. We reassess along the way and adjust the plan, and we will tell you if something is outside what we can help with.
Do I need a referral?
Many patients book directly. Your insurance policy decides whether anything else is required, so ask your insurer when you call.
Next Step
If you were in a crash in Prince George's County and something feels off, get it assessed. Book an appointment online or call the office at (301) 352-3454.
Total Wellness Chiropractic 6000 Laurel Bowie Road, Suite 202 Bowie, MD 20715 (301) 352-3454 wherethehealingbegins.com
This article is for educational purposes only and is not medical or legal advice. It does not create a doctor-patient relationship and is not a substitute for an in-person evaluation by a qualified healthcare provider. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911. For questions about insurance coverage or a personal injury claim, consult your insurer or a licensed Maryland attorney. Individual results may vary.
