Auto Injuries

Car accidents can turn your life upside down in an instant, often leaving behind painful auto injuries that affect your neck, back, shoulders, or joints.

Even a minor fender bender can lead to stiffness, headaches, or radiating pain that makes everyday activities difficult. Many patients don’t notice symptoms until days later, when inflammation and misalignment begin to set in.

Dr. Samuel Richards has extensive experience treating auto accident injuries and helping patients recover safely without drugs or surgery.

Our goal is not just to relieve your pain, but to restore mobility, promote healing, and help you return to the life you love, naturally.

Injured in a car crash? We can help.
Call us today to schedule a free consultation
(727) 289-9148

Common Auto Accident Injuries We Treat

After a car crash, your body is subjected to sudden forces that can strain muscles, ligaments, and joints. Because of this, many patients experience symptoms that worsen over time.

The following are some of the most common auto injuries we see in our St Petersburg chiropractic clinic:

• Whiplash – A rapid back-and-forth movement of the neck often caused by rear-end collisions. Symptoms can include stiffness, headaches, dizziness, and pain radiating into the shoulders.
• Back Pain – Strained muscles, sprained ligaments, or vertebral misalignments often occur after impact. Pain may be sharp, aching, or persistent.
• Herniated or Bulging Discs – Discs that shift out of place can press on nerves, causing numbness, weakness, or shooting pain down the arms or legs.
• Shoulder Injuries – The force of a seatbelt or airbag can cause bruising, rotator cuff injuries, or limited range of motion.
• Soft Tissue Damage – Muscle sprains, ligament tears, and connective tissue injuries are common after sudden jolts.
• Headaches and Migraines – Tension, neck strain, or nerve compression can lead to chronic headaches that worsen over time.

Identifying the specific cause of your pain is the key to successful treatment. That’s why Dr. Richards takes time with every patient to perform a detailed evaluation, using advanced diagnostics to uncover exactly what’s happening inside your body.

Chiropractic Care for Auto Injury Recovery

The days and weeks after an accident are critical. If treated promptly, chiropractic care gives your body the best chance to heal correctly and avoid long-term issues. At Burghealth Physical Medicine, we use proven, drug-free treatments to reduce pain, restore mobility, and support natural healing.

At Burghealth Physical Medicine, our chiropractic team focuses on restoring proper spinal alignment and helping the body recover after an auto accident. Treatment plans may include:

• Chiropractic Adjustments – Gentle spinal adjustments help restore alignment after an accident, relieve pressure on nerves, reduce inflammation, and improve mobility. Many patients notice less pain and better range of motion after treatment.
• Active Release Technique (ART) – This targeted soft tissue therapy helps break up scar tissue and muscle adhesions caused by whiplash and impact injuries. ART improves flexibility, reduces muscle tightness, and restores normal movement.
• Spinal Decompression Therapy – For disc injuries and nerve compression, spinal decompression gently stretches the spine to relieve pressure on damaged discs and nerves. This therapy encourages proper disc positioning and promotes healing.
• Trigger Point Injections – Trigger point therapy helps relieve painful muscle knots that often develop after a collision. These injections improve circulation, reduce muscle spasms, and help restore comfortable movement.

Whiplash After an Auto Accident

One of the most frequent auto injuries we see at Burghealth Physical Medicine is whiplash. This condition happens when the head is suddenly thrust forward and backward, often during a rear-end collision.

The rapid motion strains the muscles, ligaments, and joints in the neck, which can lead to lasting pain if not treated properly.

Symptoms of whiplash:

• Neck pain or stiffness
• Headaches, often starting at the base of the skull
• Shoulder and upper back pain
• Dizziness or fatigue
• Limited range of motion in the neck
• Tingling or numbness in the arms or hands

Dr. Samuel Richards uses a combination of chiropractic care and natural therapies to address whiplash at its source. By restoring proper alignment and function, his therapies help reduce pain, improve mobility, and prevent long-term complications often linked to untreated whiplash.

Take the Next Step Toward Relief

If you’ve been in a car accident, don’t wait for the pain to get worse. Even minor accidents can cause lasting damage if left untreated. The team at Burghealth Physical Medicine is here to help you recover with safe, effective, drug-free chiropractic treatments that restore mobility, reduce pain, and improve your overall quality of life.

For expert care for auto injuries in St Petersburg, contact our office today at (727) 289-9148 to schedule your consultation and start your recovery journey.