From the thrill of the ride to the sense of freedom, there’s no denying the allure of riding a motorcycle. Despite the protective measures you may take while riding, accidents happen. If you’ve been involved in an accident on your bike, it’s important to get evaluated by a medical professional, even if you walked away seemingly “uninjured.”
As a biker, not only are you at risk for many of the most common motor vehicle accident injuries, but your lower extremities can also take more of a toll than they would in some car accidents. It’s important to pay attention to the early signs of injury to get proper treatment.
What should you be watching for?
In today’s article, I discuss common motorcycle injuries and the importance of proactive treatment, to avoid chronic pain and further harm. Read on to learn more.
Lower Extremity Injuries From Motorcycle Accidents
Most motorcycle accidents can be classified as “low side” or “high side.” A low-side crash happens if you happen to lose control, usually from lost traction, and skid out. Alternatively, a high-side crash is an accident where the rider is actually physically thrown from the bike. Both types of crashes carry their own injury risks.
If you’ve been in either a low or high-side motorcycle accident recently, these are some of the more common traumas to be aware of.
Fractures
This one stands out far and wide as the most common lower leg injury from motorcycle accidents and can happen in both low and high-side crashes. In fact, fractures in the two lower leg bones (the tibia and fibula) make up for a whopping 95% of leg injuries from motorcycle accidents. The torque that a low-side crash can put on these bones makes them more susceptible to fracture. However, that doesn’t let you off the hook for a high-side crash – you can also be at risk for fracture depending on the angle and force in which you hit the ground. If you do have a fracture, you’ll likely feel pinpoint pain along the bone following the accident.
Because the severity of your fracture can vary wildly, a swift, proper diagnosis is the only way to nail down the best course of action for you moving forward. Some fractures require some minimal rest, while others need the bone reset and cast. If you’ve been in an accident and are having leg pain along the bone, it’s best to seek medical help immediately. Your practitioner can help you diagnose and get the proper imaging done to best understand your injury and healing timeline.
Knee Injury
Some bad crashes can cause significant trauma to the knees, which can be debilitating long-term if not dealt with properly. The knee joint plays a vital role in keeping you mobile and moving pain-free. You want to take care of these guys!
Unfortunately, in the case of a motorcycle accident, your knees could be some of the first parts of your body to absorb the impact of the crash, especially in a low-side accident. Common knee injuries from motorcycle accidents can include torn or damaged ligaments within the knee like the ACL, MCL, PCL, or meniscus from the sudden, unpredictable motion of an accident. If you lose control of your bike and skid out, the angle and impact of the skid could twist your lower leg in a way that can cause this traumatic ligament damage. Obviously, this is less than ideal.
Chances are, you’ll feel these injuries pretty quickly as a torn or ruptured ligament is pretty agonizing and is usually accompanied by the sensation of a “pop” and a shot of pain. And, sometimes instead of a full tear, it’s possible to simply sprain a ligament. Keep in mind, that even if you’ve ruptured a ligament, sometimes the initial pain sensation wears off. This doesn’t give you a free pass to shake knee pain following a low-side crash as no big deal though. The only way to truly treat an injury to your knee ligament is to consult with a professional.
For the best possible long-term outcome, these injuries absolutely must be diagnosed quickly as many require urgent care. If you’re experiencing any knee pain following a motorcycle accident, it’s imperative that you seek medical help immediately to get your healing timeline started as soon as possible.
Can Chiropractic Help You Overcome Your Injury?
Barring emergency medical needs on the accident site, it’s best to seek medical help immediately following a motorcycle accident. Sometimes after a jarring event, it’s easy to dismiss seemingly little aches and pains that can later grow into something more difficult to manage and ultimately overcome.
Chiropractic care can play an important role here. From common aches to extremity injuries, this conservative care has greatly assisted many in their process of working through post-accident issues. Through the use of spine, neck, and extremity manipulations or adjustments, this care can help to realign the body, decrease inflammation, relieve pressure, and reduce nerve irritability. Of course, if there is any suspicion of fracture, adjustments may not be appropriate for your case. In this scenario, your practitioner can order the appropriate lab or imaging work to ensure that you have all the necessary pieces to your health puzzle.
Again, in the case of motorcycle accident injuries, it’s imperative that you seek help right away even if you think that your pain is minor. Many of these injuries can build over time, and they are much better nipped in the bud.
By working consistent chiropractic care into your rehabilitation routine, you could cut down on your healing time and increase your overall quality of life. That’s a huge win. The bottom line: if you’ve been in a motorcycle accident, seeking medical treatment immediately could make a real difference in both instant relief and your long-term recovery. Get help now; schedule your chiropractic appointment online or call (626) 495-3230.
This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for in-person advice or care from a medical professional.
