Last Updated on November 12, 2023

Auto accidents can be traumatizing experiences, leaving victims with physical and emotional damage that may linger long after the collision. While immediate medical attention is crucial for addressing acute injuries, many accident victims struggle with chrionic pain, stiffness, and PTSD issues in the aftermath.

Fortunately, chiropractic care, acupuncture, and massage are all excellent therapies to help alleviate post-accident symptoms and promoting overall healing. In this article, we will explore how these holistic approaches to health and wellness can be valuable components of recovery after an auto accident.

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Chiropractic Care: Restoring Spinal Health

Chiropractic care focuses on diagnosing and treating musculoskeletal disorders, particularly those related to the spine. After an auto accident, it’s not uncommon for individuals to experience neck and back pain due to whiplash, spasmed muscles, and misaligned vertebrae. Chiropractors are specially trained to evaluate and adjust the spine, aiming to restore proper alignment and function. Here’s how chiropractic care can help after an auto accident:

A. Pain Management: Chiropractic adjustments often provide immediate relief from pain by releasing pressure on nerves and reducing inflammation. This can be particularly beneficial for those with whiplash injuries, which often leads to neck and upper back discomfort.

B. Promotes Healing: By properly aligning the spine, chiropractic adjustments facilitate the body’s natural healing process. This includes reducing inflammation and improving blood flow. Proper blood flow brings essential nutrients to injured tissues, accelerating recovery.

C. Non-Invasive Approach: Chiropractic care offers a non-invasive alternative to surgery or long-term medication use. This allows patients to avoid potential side effects and downtime associated with recovery from more invasive therapies or pharmaceutical treatments.

D. Prevents Chronic Issues: Addressing these painful conditions early can prevent the development of chronic conditions that may arise if these issues are left untreated.

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Acupuncture: Promoting Healing and Reducing pain

Acupuncture is a natural therapy using the insertion of tiny, sterile needles into areas that improve blood circulation, promote relaxation, and reduce pain. After an auto accident, acupuncture is a valuable therapy to improve healing times and calm the nervous system. Here’s how acupuncture can benefit accident survivors:

A. Pain Relief: Acupuncture is effective in relieving both acute and chronic pain by calming the nervous system and triggering the release of endorphins, the body’s natural painkillers. This helps alleviate pain from injuries sustained during the accident.

B. Stress Reduction: Auto accidents are emotionally distressing, leading to symptoms including insomnia, anxiety, and other PTSD-like symptoms. Most people find acupuncture to be a surprisingly relaxing therapy. It should be performed in a well-designed clinic that is warm, quiet, and provides an excellent environment for deep relaxation.

C. Improved Circulation: Acupuncture enhances blood circulation to damaged tissues promoting healing and reducing inflammation. It is often a pain-free therapy allowing access to damage tissue that is otherwise too sensitive to be worked on directly.

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Massage Therapy: Relaxation and Pain Relief

Massage therapy is a hands-on approach to healing that involves manipulating soft tissues, such as muscles and tendons, to promote relaxation and reduce pain. After an auto accident, massage therapy can play a crucial role in recovery by addressing various physical and emotional symptoms:

A. Muscle Tension Release: The force of an impact during an auto accident can cause muscles to tighten and spasm. Massage therapy helps relax tense muscles and reduces the pain associated with muscle spasms.

B. Increased Flexibility: Through gentle stretching and manipulation, massage therapy can improve joint flexibility and range of motion, making it easier for patients to regain mobility.

C. Stress Reduction: The calming nature of massage therapy alleviates stress, anxiety, and depression, common psychological reactions to auto accidents.

D. Enhanced Circulation: Like acupuncture, massage therapy increases blood flow to injured areas, helping to speed up the body’s natural healing process and reduce inflammation.

E. Scar Tissue Management: Massage therapy can also assist in breaking down and reducing the formation of scar tissue, which may develop after an accident.

Conclusion:

Auto accidents can leave lasting physical and emotional scars, but chiropractic care, acupuncture, and massage therapy offer excellent tools for recovery. These holistic approaches address a range of issues, from pain management to emotional well-being, by promoting healing, restoring balance, and reducing stress. If you’ve been involved in an auto accident, consider incorporating these alternative therapies into your recovery plan. Consult with healthcare professionals experienced in these fields to determine the most appropriate treatment approach for your specific needs. With their guidance, you can embark on the road to recovery and regain your physical and emotional well-being.

Katherine V.

March 9, 2023.

While recovering from injuries sustained from a car accident, I have seen a few different acupuncturists as well as a chiropractor and masseuse at Inner Gate, and I have appreciated them all. The care I've received has been stellar - compassionate, personable, considerate, and soothing. Truly, Inner Gate practitioners have greatly helped me in my healing process. Thank you!

Abbie W.

July 26, 2022.

I have been seeing Nick Maxwell for Craniosacral massage for the last several months after a car accident left me with whiplash, nagging low back pain, a mild concussion, and stress and anxiety. He is an incredibly gifted healer that has helped me immensely! I have had a plethora of bodywork over the years, and I can undoubtedly say that his massages are the best. He has also helped with digestive issues/SIBO/nervous system recovery. I would never see anyone else again after finding him. I am much calmer, happier, and healing well thanks in big part to his care.

Elizabeth M.

February 10, 2022.

Well, I will start by saying that Nicholas Maxwell is my favorite massage therapist. I went to him after 1 year of shoulder pain. Before going to him, I was waiting for the pain to just go away; it didn't. He was the first person I sought any help from. I'm sorry to say, I didn't expect that much relief from a massage but after about 3 sessions I felt close to cured of 1 whole year of pain! He recommended a great physical therapist to solve my shoulder stiffness and pain. My pt said that Nick did a great job of loosening up the muscles for a quicker recovery. Nick seemed to wipe out all the surface pain and extraneous tenderness so that my pt could pinpoint my injury which turned out to be shoulder tendonitis. Now I see both of them concurrently. They both gave the same estimate for recovery, which was shorter than I thought it would be. I've had more that 50 massages in my lifetime (CA, NY, NV), Nick is the only massage therapist I have been to that leaves me feeling better for days and days after the actual massage. If I could describe what Nick's massages feel like, it would be like this: If the ocean waves had massaging hands, they would be Nick's. Before going to Nick, I am a chuck steak. After my massage, I am filet mignon. What can I say, Nick Is Awesome!!

Julian J.

November 4, 2021.

My physical therapist suggested acupuncture for my chronic knee injury in July 2021. I'm going to explain my story, but I want to say at the beginning that Emma Ellsworth at Inner Gate Health & Wellness saved me from a life of chronic pain. It's really difficult and frustrating to find good care anywhere these days, so trust me when I tell you that you can end your search now. Just call Inner Gate and ask for Emma. I always find it helpful to read health care reviews from folks who suffer from the same issues as me, so here's a bit about my medical history: My orthopedic physician diagnosed me with IT band syndrome in my right knee in January 2021. I began a course of physical therapy, but not only did the IT band syndrome not get better, I actually developed IT band syndrome in my left leg due to overcompensation. I pushed myself a little too hard and started noticing that even very light exercise would cause my symptoms to flare up (inflammation, pain, swelling, etc.). By May 2021, I could not walk more than 3 blocks at a time without my knees flaring up. Keep in mind that I'm an otherwise healthy person in my mid-30s. I then developed hamstring tendinopathy in both legs, I assume to disuse. Along with preexisting patellofemoral pain syndrome issues, suffice to say that my knees were totally busted, okay. After all that, my physical therapist and orthopedic physician basically threw their hands up and suggested either cortisone shots for the rest of my life, acupuncture, or prescription pain medication that I really shouldn't be taking due to family history of hypertension. In comes Emma. I'm a huge believer in modern Western medicine and everything, but Emma succeeded where two physical therapists, a physiatrist, my orthopedic physician, and my primary care doctor all failed. Emma succeeded not only because she did something they did not - acupuncture - but she succeeded because she was more effective and patient at taking time to find the actual root cause of my issues. She is super methodical about interviewing me at the beginning of every session, evaluating what worked / didn't work from last time, trying out new areas for acupuncture, and over the course of 4 weeks eventually found an acupuncture solution that reduced my pain. I remember when it happened - I had an acupuncture session one Friday in October, and two days later I was going for a walk and ended up walking like 3 times further than I had walked in the past 6 months. I stopped and was like, "Wow my legs don't hurt at all." The pain literally vanished, went from a 5-6/10 on the pain scale all day every day down to 0-1. The massive pain reduction has allowed me to resume my physical therapy exercises with less pain and start rebuilding my knee strength. I still go to acupuncture to deal with some knee meniscus issues and overall wellness / mental health issues. Honestly, I feel such a tremendous sense of wellness after every acupuncture session that I kind of don't ever want to stop going. Anyway, if you made it this far, thanks for reading and hopefully my story is helpful. Seriously, go see the folks at Inner Gate. You won't regret it!!

Mitchell P.

October 19, 2021.

Inner Gate Health & Wellness provides exceptional care! Their staff, specifically Emma Ellsworth, is skillful, compassionate, and effective at providing holistic healing services, including acupuncture. I highly recommend treatment with Inner Gate and Emma Ellsworth for symptoms including depression, anxiety, pelvic floor pain, back pain, and digestion issues.

Ruben S.

April 15, 2021.

This is a long overdue, rave review for Terry. I've been to many acupuncturists over the last decade and she is hands down the most helpful and accommodating. I came in with a very unsolvable problem (tinnitus) and had tried everything before coming to Terry. Terry has helped improve my symptoms with Tinnitus and a number of other issues. She's also extremely patient and takes time out of every session at the beginning to go over progress and how I'm feeling. She has a good understanding of my problems and is always ready with solutions to help. Acupuncture with Terry is one of the highlights of my week -- thank you for being so great!!

Dr. Kaley B.

November 28, 2020.

Very impressed! Great acupuncture, well organized front desk. Liz is fantastic, and I'm not a fan of needles. Finally got some relief from back and neck pain. Looking forward to a few more sessions!

September 15, 2020.

I highly recommend Oliver Leonetti at Innergate Acupuncture! I have seen him for the last 12 years for various ailments - ranging from nagging sports injuries to digestive issues to insomnia/anxiety, and he always provides the highest level of care that truly lasts. Not only is he extremely knowledgeable and skilled, but he is super kind and caring and always take the time to truly listen. I always feel better after leaving my appointment. I honestly do not know what I would do without Oliver or Innergate Acupuncture! Also, I've seen several of the acupuncturists there, and they are all fantastic as well.

M W.

July 9, 2020.

I can't recommend these guys enough! I have a 10 yr old competitive skier who was having some knee pain & had never had acupuncture done before...not only did these guys gently ease him into the entire process - they also helped him get back on the ski hill after the first couple of treatments I was super impressed with their professionalism & how both Liz and Casey approached his injury - now my little guy looks forward to going to his acupuncture appointments! Yay! Thank you a zillion times over for taking such good care of my little guy.

Abby J.

January 9, 2020.

I used to think acupuncture was sort of hokey. Not total witchcraft, but definitely not the magic, cure-all that people said. Well, folks, a few months in and I can report that I'm a changed woman! Well, really, it only took one session. Terry took my whole health history into consideration and helped with everything. Anxiety, sleeplessness, colds, ankle injuries, back pain--you name it. I've come in with problems and always left improved. I'm sure all the acupuncturists are lovely, but I want to stress how awesome Terry is. She takes my concerns seriously without making me feel like I'm at a stuffy doctors office. She approaches her work with humor and friendliness and is spot on with her treatment. Terry has made me feel comfortable from the get-go and has made my weekly appointments something for me to look forward to. My friends all have heard me rave about her, so I'd say everyone I know should go see her, but then I may never be able to squeeze in my appointments again! Just kidding, of course. Also, big props to the front desk staff too. They have been super kind and helpful when guiding me through insurance issues or unexpected after work traffic. I'd highly recommend Inner Gate SE to anyone with any ailment!