Police officers help maintain law and order across the country. It’s hard to imagine what our society would look like without them.
If you’re a local police officer, you know the job can take a heavy toll.
Dr. McSweeney and the team at Mount Prospect Health Center, the leading chiropractor in Newark, NJ, look at some of the most common police officer’s injuries you may be experiencing and at how chiropractic care can help treat them.
Common Examples of Injuries Among Police Officers in Newark, NJ
The most common examples of police offer injuries you may experience include the following:
Vehicle Accident Injuries
As a police officer, you’ll likely find yourself in the occasional high-speed chase. Unfortunately, this can mean vehicle accidents and all the injuries that follow. Also, motorists can hit police officers at what should have been a routine traffic stop.
These car-related accidents can cause different types of injuries, ranging from minor cuts to spinal injuries. According to the CDC, 286 of these accidents led to deaths between 2011 and 2020.
Injuries Due to Assaults
According to the FBI, there were around 44,000 cases of people physically assaulting police officers and other law enforcement agents in 2021. The assaults led to 15,369 injuries. These injuries ranged from cuts and bruises to broken bones.
Gunshot Injuries
Gunshot wounds are one of the most common police officer injuries. Every day you step out as a police officer, you face the risk of someone targeting you. You may also get involved in a gunfight.
Injuries from bullets or shrapnel can mean being out of work for some time. According to the COPS Office, 331 police officers were shot in 2022.
Repetitive Stress Injuries (RSIs)
Police officers engage in some form of daily repetitive motion, including walking a beat, filing paperwork, and chasing and apprehending criminals. Sometimes, fighting crime might also mean lifting heavy equipment when you’re under pressure and can’t pay attention to your posture.
Therefore, you can develop RSIs like rotator cuff or carpal tunnel syndrome in addition to tears, strains, and sprains.
Slip-and-Fall Injuries
Slip-and-fall injuries are one of the biggest workplace safety and health threats. They are among the most common workplace injuries. As a law enforcement officer working outdoors half the time, you’re more likely to slip and fall.
Police officers can trip and fall while on patrol or chasing suspects, leading to strains, sprains, fractures, and more.
How Chiropractic Care Can Help With Police Officer Injuries
When you see a chiropractor for your injuries, they will focus on helping you manage any pain you’re experiencing and reduce the time it will take to recover from any injury. The treatment may help improve your well-being and reduce your chances of injury.
Here’s how chiropractors can help.
- Relief for musculoskeletal injuries. Chiropractors can use spinal alignments and manual manipulation to improve joint alignment, restore function to affected parts of your body, and reduce pain in your back, neck, legs, and hands.
- Better mobility. Chiropractic treatments help address conditions that have made you less flexible as a police officer. Improving your range of motion will help you keep up with the physical demands of your job.
- Improved mental health. Treatment options like soft tissue therapy and other special exercises can help you manage stress and relax better. This can take the edge off the mental strain you go through daily.
- Improved performance. If you’re not in pain and don’t have any flexibility issues as an officer, you can perform better in situations that will test your physical fitness.
FAQs
Can Police Officers See Chiropractors for All Physical Injuries?
You can’t see a chiropractor for a work injury unless it has affected your muscles, ligaments, and bones. You should only see a chiropractor after your doctor has cleared you for any life-threatening injuries.
Do Police Officers Get Workers’ Compensation?
Every law enforcement officer gets workers’ compensation for injuries they suffer while doing their job.
How Quickly Can Chiropractors Treat Injuries?
This will depend on the type of injury you have sustained, your current physical fitness, and other related factors.
Schedule an Appointment With a Police Officer Injury Chiropractor Today
At Mount Prospect Health Center, Newark, NJ, we treat police officer injuries with quality chiropractic care.
Our practice accepts most commercial health insurance plans, as well as some workers’ compensation, and most no-fault, and PIP (personal injury protection). Same-day appointments may be available.
Call Mount Prospect Health Center today at 973-485-2332 to book a session.
Start enjoying the benefits of a personalized physical therapy plan today.
