ACCIDENT INJURY CARE
Soft Tissue & Joint Injuries After a Car Accident
Bracing against the wheel, the seatbelt catching your shoulder, a knee hitting the dash — crashes injure far more than your spine. We treat the shoulder, hip, knee, and soft tissue injuries collisions leave behind.
The Injuries People Don’t Connect to Their Crash
In the split second before impact, you brace: hands lock on the wheel, legs stiffen against the floor, shoulders tense. That bracing routes crash forces through your joints and soft tissues — which is why shoulder pain, wrist soreness, hip discomfort, and knee pain so often follow a collision even when nothing “hit” those areas directly.
Soft tissue injuries — sprained ligaments, strained muscles and tendons — don’t show on standard X-rays, and they’re easy to shrug off early. Left untreated, they heal with disorganized scar tissue that restricts motion and keeps generating pain long after the accident.
Common Patterns We See
- Shoulder: rotator cuff strains and joint sprains from the seatbelt and bracing
- Wrist and elbow: from locked arms on the steering wheel
- Hip and knee: from dashboard contact and braced legs
- Ribs and chest wall: seatbelt contusions and joint sprains
Shoulder Injuries
Seatbelt loading and bracing strain the rotator cuff and shoulder joint.
Hip & Knee Pain
Dashboard impact and braced legs drive force through the knees and hips.
Sprains & Strains
Stretched ligaments and muscles anywhere you braced, twisted, or absorbed impact.
Sore in places that “shouldn’t” hurt?
Bracing injuries are real crash injuries. Get them examined and documented.
How We Treat Soft Tissue & Joint Injuries
After identifying the injured structures, Dr. Mitchell combines joint adjustments to restore proper mechanics with targeted soft tissue therapy that guides scar tissue to heal in alignment with the muscle — preserving strength and flexibility. Progressive rehabilitation exercises then rebuild stability so the injury doesn’t recur.
Extremity injuries are also among the most under-documented crash injuries. We examine and record every injured area — not just your spine — so your treatment records reflect the full scope of what the accident did.
Every Injury Belongs in Your Record
If your shoulder or knee still hurts months from now, the only thing connecting it to the crash is documentation created early. Same-day exams capture and record these injuries while the link is clear.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Yes. Bracing before impact routes enormous force through your joints. Strains and sprains from bracing are among the most common — and most overlooked — crash injuries.
Usually not — soft tissue doesn’t image on X-ray. Diagnosis comes from a thorough orthopedic examination; we use X-rays to rule out fracture and refer for MRI when needed.
Very much. They’re real injuries requiring real treatment — but only if they’re examined and documented early. Gaps make them easy to dispute later.
Injured in an accident? Get seen today.
Same-day exams, on-site digital X-rays, and $0 out-of-pocket options. Call now or request an appointment online.