Motorcycle accidents are a lot different from automobile accidents. Specifically, how much the riders are exposed and unprotected during the collision compared to individuals in a motor vehicle. A recommendation from attorneys, doctors, and chiropractors is for all motorcyclists to learn about common causes of accidents to help prevent and reduce the level of risk. On a motorcycle, there is nothing between the individual and the impact to protect the body from injury. If something hits the bike, the individual will get hit themselves and/or hit something. The strength and stamina it takes to ride a motorcycle takes a definite toll on the body. It’s common for the spine to get out of alignment and sustain soft tissue damage from regular riding. Injury Medical Chiropractic and Functional Medicine Clinic can help relieve pain and rehabilitate the body’s musculoskeletal system from regular riding or after a motorcycle accident.  

Head-On Collisions

Accidents and crashes that involve motorcycles and other vehicles account for over half of motorcycle accident deaths. In most of these accidents, the car hits the bike from the front more than 70% of the time. Automobiles hit motorcycles from behind only 5% of the time.

Vehicles Making Left-Hand Turns

When an automobile makes a left-hand turn, it is one of the most dangerous situations for motorcyclists. These collisions account for almost half of all motorcycle and car accidents. The turning car usually hits the motorcycle when the bike:

• Goes straight through an intersection
• Is passing the automobile
• Trying to overtake the automobile

These types of accidents are also common with cars and trucks. However, the smaller motorcycle makes it even less visible when turning vehicles.

Lane Splitting

Motorcycles that pass cars within the same lane are at an increased risk of getting hit. Car and truck drivers don’t expect the motorcyclist to pass and are often taken by surprise. Lane splitting is when a motorcycle drives between two lanes of stopped or slowly moving cars, typically during high traffic. It is a common cause of motorcycle accidents because:

• The proximity of the automobiles to the motorcycle
• Reduced space that the motorcyclist has to maneuver around the other vehicles
• Most drivers don’t see or anticipate a motorcycle passing them in slowed or stopped traffic

Road Hazards

Motorcyclists are at an increased risk from road hazards. Because of the smaller size and unstable nature of the motorcycle:

• Potholes
• Roadkill
• Slick road conditions
• Uneven height between lanes
• Other unexpected objects on the road pose a serious threat.

Common Injuries

Hip/Pelvic Misalignment

The pelvis has three major joints:

• The pubic joint on the front of the body
• Two sacroiliac joints on each side of the back connect the pelvis to the spine.

It also connects to different muscles, including the hip and pelvic floor. When the body falls on the hip or sustains various forms of crash-related impact, the hip or pelvis can shift out of place. This type of misalignment is a leading cause of back pain and can be agonizing. It can keep an individual off the road and unable to work. A chiropractor can adjust any pelvic misalignment using manipulative therapy. Physical therapy rehabilitation and home exercises/stretches will also be recommended.  

Whiplash

This is a type of neck injury that happens from a forceful, back-and-forth motion during the impact of a crash or with a sudden stop. It is a soft tissue injury where the tendons and muscles of the neck are stretched and/or torn. Common symptoms include:

• Pain
• Tingling
• Stiffness
• Limited range of motion

A chiropractor can help with gentle adjustments to realign the neck and muscle stretching to loosen the tense muscles.

Other Neck Injuries

Other injuries can include misalignment or fractures of the neck vertebrae from a different impact, like a side hit. Chiropractic can help an individual recover from these injuries and restore the range of motion. Gentle chiropractic manipulation, mobilization treatment, and intersegmental traction can help realign the neck.  

Back Injury

The spine and its muscles are highly prone to injury. Common injuries include:

• Fractures
• Herniated/slipped discs
• Spinal misalignment
• Soft tissue injuries

A chiropractor can rehabilitate musculoskeletal and soft tissue injuries through therapeutic massage.

Leg/Foot Injury

Injuries to the legs and feet are common in motorcycle accidents. Common injuries include:

• Sprains
• Strains
• Road rash
• Fractures

Bikers Arm

Biker’s arm, also known as rider’s arm, is specific to motorcyclists and sometimes bicyclists. It happens when a motorcyclist instinctively pulls in their arm/hand in front of them to try and lessen the impact when falling. This can lead to shoulder, arm, wrist, and hand injuries. The bones, tendons, ligaments, muscles, and nerves can suffer damage and can be severe.  

Treatment

Treatment for these injuries can include a soft collar, chiropractic care, anti-inflammatory medications, corticosteroid injections, nerve blocks, and physical therapy. Surgery could also be necessary, combined with the above treatments. Motorcycle riders can increase their safety by being aware of the common causes of accidents, staying alert, and taking steps to reduce and avoid the risk.

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Body Composition Overall Health

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Phase Angle Inflammation Injury Tracking

Phase angle determines the status of an individual’s overall health. If an individual gets hurt and has a low phase angle, their ability to heal can be delayed. The body’s extracellular water and water mass are measured to assess how swollen an individual is after an accident. The individual is reassessed every two weeks to show water loss or inflammation loss. Body composition is important for understanding an individual’s fluid status and physiological makeup. This is used to guide and develop treatments to improve status and decrease hospital stay length. InBody is non-invasive and convenient, making it the ideal tool for patient assessments. In less than 60 seconds, the InBody test provides easy-to-understand, accurate, and objective measurements to evaluate a patient’s health and monitor progress throughout treatment. Doctors use InBody to:

• Identify fluid imbalances related to medical conditions, trauma, and/or organ failure.
• Track fluid overload
• Monitor variables for muscle loss and cachexia
• Assess malnutrition risks

References

Cherta Ballester, Oscar, et al. Analysis of trunk impact conditions in motorcycle road accidents based on epidemiological, accidentological data, and multibody simulations. Accident; analysis and prevention vol. 127 (2019): 223-230. doi:10.1016/j.aap.2019.03.006

Halbersberg, Dan, and Boaz Lerner. Young driver fatal motorcycle accident analysis by jointly maximizing accuracy and information. Accident; analysis and prevention vol. 129 (2019): 350-361. doi:10.1016/j.aap.2019.04.016

Spinal cord injury: Causes. Mayo Clinic Web site. www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/spinal-cord-injury/basics/causes/con-20023837. Published October 8, 2014. Accessed August 30, 2017.