Car accidents can be super traumatic for a kid. Minor or not, it can really affect their mind and body. If you and your kid go through this, you always have to check on them and make sure they’re okay and there’s no visible injury. Most of the time, even if there’s no visible injury, a kid can’t share their discomfort or pain, especially if it’s an underlying problem, which most of the time is a shoulder injury in kids. The best way to figure out the main problem is by finding an auto injury chiropractor near me in Sunnyvale.
Experts like Tropea Chiropractic Inc. will offer non-surgical therapies that will help your kid to be pain-free, happy and active. But since many parents haven’t consulted a chiropractor for their kids, it’s a big step for them. In this blog, we’ll explain how safe this treatment is and how it can benefit your kids long term. So read till the end to know more about it. But before…
Signs your kid may be suffering from shoulder issues
The signs won’t just be physical but mental as well. Here are some of the most common signs that your kid may be suffering from shoulder-related issues post-accident.
Mental Signs
- Trouble Sleeping
If your child is having trouble sleeping, it could be because of the shoulder pain. That’s because the pain in the shoulder can disrupt sleep, especially when lying on the affected side. Check if they are tossing or using more pillows to avoid putting pressure on the affected area.
- Reluctant to playing
In many cases, children may stop doing physical activities they used to enjoy, like swinging, climbing or riding a bike. However, if they avoid rough play or sports involving upper body movement, it may indicate they are experiencing shoulder pain that they haven’t yet identified.
- Crying when touched
If your child is really young, their touching or brushing against the injured shoulder may make them cry. If you notice them getting cranky when they’re hugged or getting dressed, it could mean they have pain in the area.
- Avoiding cars and seatbelts
Finally, if the shoulder area is sore from the seatbelt during the accident, your child may avoid wearing it or complain that it hurts. Apart from that, the fear or discomfort with sitting in a car again could mean hidden pain too, so look out for every small to big sign.
Physical Signs
- Swelling and bruising
After the accident, the area around the shoulder may swell. You may see bruising or skin discolouration around the shoulder or collarbone, which could be internal trauma. Sometimes the swelling may be minimal, but it makes one shoulder look slightly higher or forward. So, note the shoulder and its position.
- Shoulder clicking or popping sounds
If the shoulder joint is misaligned or strained, it may click during movement. To check this out, watch their movements, such as stretching, lifting, or rotating their arm. If you hear any “popping” after the incident, you may need to get a car accident chiropractic treatment in Sunnyvale.
- Postural imbalance
One of the most significant signs is that one shoulder may droop or rotate forward more than the other. This may make your child lean to one side when sitting or walking to compensate for pain or stiffness. In such cases, school-going children may avoid carrying their school backpacks.
- Reduced shoulder mobility
After the accident, your child may not be able to lift their arm fully overhead or behind their back. So, watch how they put on clothes and see if they are only using one hand to wear the clothes.
What Happens If You Ignore Shoulder Injuries in Children?
When you ignore your child’s condition, thinking it was just a minor accident, it can lead to problems like frozen shoulder or stiffness, reduced mobility, neck or back pain, poor posture or scoliosis development and emotional stress due to chronic pain. So if you notice your child complaining of:
- Pain or discomfort in the shoulder or neck
- Swelling or reduced motion
- Being tired, moody or inactive after the accident
- Or you practically see them developing new posture issues
Then consulting Tropea Chiropractic Inc. for your chiropractic care for accident injuries in Sunnyvale would be the best choice to avoid the pain from taking over.
(Also read from our previous blogs: How Can Chiropractic Care Offer Long-Term Health? An Expert Guide)
How can Expert Chiropractors help?
Pediatric chiropractors use child-friendly, low-force techniques that are specifically designed to treat children’s musculoskeletal issues safely. In this case, the therapist may perform gentle spinal and shoulder adjustments, soft tissue therapy, postural exercises, cold compress therapy, etc.
These therapies will give you:
- Gentle Adjustments:
This will realign the shoulder joint and upper spine to release pressure and restore movement in kids.
- Reduces Inflammation:
They will do manual therapy and soft tissue work, which can reduce swelling and pain in injured muscles, and reduce overall body inflammation.
- Supports Nervous System Function:
After the accident, there can be misalignment in the spine or shoulders that can affect nerve signals, causing more discomfort. In this case, expert chiropractic care in Sunnyvale will help your child to restore proper function.
- Prevents Long-Term Issues
They will make sure to provide early care, which can prevent chronic pain, posture issues or even shoulder instability later in life, and keep your child physically healthy.
- Drug-Free Healing
Finally, since chiropractors use drug-free therapies, your child will avoid pain medications. Instead, it will support the body’s natural healing process, and your child will heal properly for long-term results.
Bottom Line
Your child is still under development, and if you ignore them post-accident, it could significantly affect them, not allowing them to lead an active and normal life. This can be very frustrating and can demotivate them, causing them mental distress. So, even if your child undergoes a minor car accident, you must immediately look for an auto injury chiropractor near me for instant support. If you are in Sunnyvale, you can trust Tropea Chiropractic Inc.