After an auto accident, you may experience a variety of issues when it comes to walking and balance, but not always in the clearest way. Too many people are unaware of the potential problems that can come after being in an auto accident and, as a result, do not seek the necessary treatment. This can be problematic since injuries left unseen can become much bigger problems down the road. With this in mind, today we’ll discuss how walking and balance issues that can occur after an auto accident can be a problem and what you can do about it.
What’s the Problem?
When a car accident happens, there’s so much going on at once that it’s easy to overlook how you’re actually physically feeling. On top of sorting out insurance papers, contacting the police, and dealing with the general feeling of being shaken up by the crash, it can be tough to know if you’re really feeling injured or not.
And here’s the thing- even if you feel fine immediately after an accident, that doesn’t mean you’re in the clear.
Some auto accident injuries, like whiplash, may not show symptoms until days or weeks after the accident has occurred. You might be walking around and suddenly start experiencing issues with your walking or overall balance, and this is going to feel completely out of the blue because the auto accident feels like it was so long ago, and it’s hard to make the connection between the two.
This is why even if you feel like you’re totally fine, it’s important to be aware of the potential risks and get checked out by a doctor as soon as possible to ensure this doesn’t happen.
A 2008 study looked into how someone’s balance was affected by auto accidents, comparing 40 people with whiplash to 40 healthy individuals. Everyone was connected up to a posturography platform (a machine that measures an individual’s effective balance) to see how they were.
Unsurprisingly, those with whiplash had significant differences in their ability to balance and walk compared to those who didn’t. However, only four out of the 40 patients who had whiplash described having any sensations of dizziness or being unbalanced.
What Does This Mean?
This research is important because it shows that auto accident injuries can cause long-term problems, even if you don’t feel them immediately. It also shows that conditions like whiplash can be identified within you before you actually feel the symptoms of them yourself.
If you’ve been involved in an auto accident, even a minor one, it’s important to be aware of the potential risks and get checked out by a doctor. Only a professional can adequately assess the extent of your injuries and create a treatment plan that’s right for you.
However, whiplash isn’t the only condition you need to be aware of. Other common auto accident injuries that could affect your ability to walk and balance include;
- Head injuries, like concussion
- Spinal cord injuries
- Potential nerve damage
- Pulled muscles
- Broken or cracked bones
Each of these conditions can lead to a variety of symptoms that can make it difficult to walk or balance properly. For example, a concussion can cause dizziness, while a pulled muscle can lead to pain, inflammation, and swelling.
If you’re experiencing any symptoms affecting your ability to walk or your balance, seek medical help immediately.
Your best bet is to contact an emergency auto injury center that can help. This way, even if you feel OK to begin with, they can examine your body to help ensure that there’s no underlying damage or conditions that you need to be aware of.
Attending such a facility will help to ensure any issues don’t become bigger problems further down the line and that you have the professional advice needed to look after yourself and give yourself the best opportunity for a full and speedy recovery.
Seek The Best Treatment
Getting the best treatment after an auto accident greatly increases your chances of recovery. The team here at The Brooks Clinic, which is made up of board certified physicians is on hand to diagnose and treat you right away. The Brooks Clinic is a one-stop shop for all your auto injury treatment in Oklahoma. We have 4 locations and growing and our facilities and fully stocked with the equipment needed to get the job done. Our doctors are board-certified and have years of experience treating auto injury related conditions.
