By Dr. Justin M. Dick, DC · Senior Fellow, CLEAR Scoliosis Institute · CNMT, ARRT(N)(CT)
A 64-year-old woman came to Clear Life Scoliosis and Chiropractic Center in Charlotte after she was struck from behind while stopped in traffic. She had been seen in an emergency department and told she had a mild concussion. When I examined her, she rated her headache and neck pain at 9 out of 10, present all day. She could not work and could not care for her grandchildren.
This page lays out what we measured at intake, what we measured 16 weeks later, and where those numbers are weaker than they look. I wrote it for people in Charlotte trying to understand care after a collision, and for the attorneys and physicians who refer them. Identifying details have been removed.
Presentation at Intake
Her symptom list was long: headache, neck pain, dizziness rated 8 out of 10, brain fog and forgetfulness rated 10 out of 10, blurred vision, ringing in her ears, numbness and tingling in her arms, poor sleep, and fatigue. She reported none of these before the collision.
The neurological exam carried the most weight. Manual muscle testing was 3 out of 5 on the right in the deltoid, biceps, triceps, wrist flexors and extensors, iliopsoas, quadriceps, tibialis anterior, and extensor hallucis longus, against 5 out of 5 on the left. Pinwheel testing found right-sided sensory deficits across multiple cervical and lumbar dermatomes. Cervical extension measured 20° and rotation 37°, both well below normal.
Upright radiographs showed a neck curve of -6.6° measured C2 to C7, against a reference of -42°, with the head carried 45.8 mm forward of C7. The AP lumbar film showed a 12.3° lumbar scoliosis from T12 to L4 and a sacral base tilted 9.6°. Her chart does not document a scoliosis diagnosis before the collision, so I cannot say whether this curve was present beforehand.
How She Was Treated at Clear Life in Charlotte
Her intake impression included cervical segmental instability, so the neck was adjusted with an instrument (ArthroStim at 6 Hz) rather than by manual thrust. Care also included cervical traction, Mirror Image® positioning drawn from Chiropractic BioPhysics, seated proprioceptive work on a wobble chair, whole-body vibration, pulsed electromagnetic field therapy, and a home exercise program. Visits were frequent at first and tapered over 16 weeks.
She was not treated by us alone. During the same period she used a topical cream from her orthopedist and lidocaine patches from her medical providers, received oxygen therapy for concussion recovery through an orthopedic referral, and was advised to follow up with her neurologist. Any honest reading of her outcome has to account for that.
Intake vs. 16-Week Re-Examination
| Measure | Intake | Follow-up |
|---|---|---|
| Headache (0 to 10) | 9, constant | 5 at 8 weeks; none reported at 16 weeks |
| Neck pain (0 to 10) | 9, constant | 2 at 8 weeks; none reported at 16 weeks |
| Dizziness (0 to 10) | 8, constant | 1 at 8 weeks |
| Brain fog and forgetfulness (0 to 10) | 10, constant | 1 at 8 weeks |
| Ear ringing | Present | Occasional |
| Right-sided muscle strength | 3/5 in several arm and leg muscle groups | Within normal limits |
| Right-sided sensation (pinwheel) | Deficits in multiple dermatomes | Within normal limits |
| Cervical extension | 20° | 39° (normal 50° to 70°) |
| Cervical right rotation | 37° | 65° (normal 70° to 90°) |
| Cervical flexion | 36° | 57° |
| Cervical right lateral flexion | 21° | 29° (normal 35° to 50°) |
| Lumbar scoliosis, Cobb T12-L4 | 12.3° | 2.0° |
| Sacral base angle | 9.6° | 2.5° |
| Forward head position, C2-C7 translation | 45.8 mm | 31.9 mm |
| Neck curve, C2-C7 absolute rotation angle (reference -42°) | -6.6° | -7.3° |
Radiographic values come from the same computer-aided analysis system on both dates. Symptom ratings are her own reports on a 0 to 10 scale.
What These Numbers Show and What They Do Not
The neurological change is the strongest finding. Right-sided weakness and sensory loss across several levels returned to normal, and those are examiner findings, not self-report.
The scoliosis number needs care. A drop from 12.3° to 2.0° looks like a large correction. Her first film was taken weeks after the crash, while her lumbar and thoracic muscles were in documented spasm, and spasm alone can pull the lumbar spine into a sideways curve that settles as the injury heals. The sacral base angle also moved from 9.6° to 2.5° between films, which points to a difference in how she stood on the two days. Cobb measurement error adds more: Morrissy and colleagues reported intraobserver variation of 2.8° to 4.9° and interobserver variation of 6.3° to 7.2° (PubMed 2312527). I report the curve change because it was measured, not because I can attribute it to treatment.
Her neck curve did not change in any meaningful way, from -6.6° to -7.3°. Her forward head position did, from 45.8 mm to 31.9 mm. Her symptoms resolved without lordosis restoration, which matters for anyone who assumes the curve has to be rebuilt before the patient improves.
This is one patient, with no control, concurrent care from other providers, and a natural recovery curve that some whiplash patients follow without any treatment. We also did not record a validated disability questionnaire at both visits, which I would require before writing this up for a journal. Cervical range of motion remains below normal, and she still has occasional ear ringing.
How This Fits Our Published Work
Dr. Justin M. Dick, DC has seven PubMed-indexed papers, all published in Cureus. The three below are closest to this case. All are case reports or a retrospective cross-sectional study, which is low on the evidence hierarchy: they describe what happened, and they cannot show cause.
A 28-year-old woman with moderate thoracic scoliosis and right C5-C8 weakness after a collision. Functional Rating Index fell from 23 to 3 over 17 visits, with normalized strength and sensation and increased cervical lordosis on repeat films.
Cureus. 2026;18(3):e104584 · DOI: 10.7759/cureus.104584
A 66-year-old woman with prior lumbar and cervical fusion and mild thoracic scoliosis. Functional Rating Index fell from 22 to 11 over a 10-week program.
Cureus. 2026;18(2):e103540 · DOI: 10.7759/cureus.103540
A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Analysis of Abnormal Cervical Mechanics in Patients With Scoliosis
37 patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis; abnormal segmental translation was most frequent at C3-C4 (70.3%).
Cureus. 2025;17(8):e91098 · DOI: 10.7759/cureus.91098
The full list is on the research page for Dr. Justin M. Dick, DC.
Car Accident Care at Clear Life Scoliosis in Charlotte
Personal injury patients at Clear Life Scoliosis and Chiropractic Center are treated on a lien basis, with no out-of-pocket payment at the time of care. Every post-collision evaluation includes a history, a neurological and orthopedic exam, range of motion measurement, and upright radiographs when indicated. The personal injury program page covers the process in detail.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a car accident cause scoliosis or change an existing scoliosis curve?
A collision can produce a sideways lumbar curve on X-ray when injured back muscles go into spasm and pull the spine off center. That curve can shrink as the spasm settles. Whether a crash makes a true structural scoliosis worse is a separate question, and a single case cannot answer it. At Clear Life Scoliosis and Chiropractic Center in Charlotte, NC, Dr. Justin M. Dick, DC measures the curve on upright X-rays at intake and again at re-examination so the change is documented rather than assumed.
Why does a chiropractor in Charlotte, NC take upright X-rays after a car accident?
Upright films show the spine under body weight, which is how it functions. Dr. Justin M. Dick, DC uses them after a collision to measure neck curve, forward head position, segmental motion on flexion and extension views, and any sideways lumbar curve. He also checks for findings that change how the neck can be treated, such as ligament laxity. He holds CNMT and ARRT(N)(CT) imaging credentials in addition to his chiropractic license.
How accurate is a Cobb angle measurement on scoliosis X-rays?
Cobb angles carry real measurement error. In a published study of Cobb measurement error (Morrissy and colleagues, PubMed ID 2312527), the same examiner varied by 2.8 to 4.9 degrees at the 95% confidence limit, and different examiners varied by 6.3 to 7.2 degrees. Small changes between two X-rays can fall inside that error, and patient positioning on the day of the film adds more.
Do I have to pay out of pocket for car accident care at Clear Life Scoliosis in Charlotte?
Personal injury patients at Clear Life Scoliosis and Chiropractic Center are treated on a lien basis, so there is no out-of-pocket payment at the time of care. The clinic is at 8814 Rachel Freeman Way, Suite 103, Charlotte, NC 28278, and the phone number is 980-368-0766.
Has Dr. Justin M. Dick, DC published research on car accident injuries?
Yes. Dr. Justin M. Dick, DC has seven PubMed-indexed papers in Cureus. Two are case reports on post-collision care: one on cervical alignment and neurological changes after a collision in a 28-year-old woman with pre-existing scoliosis, and one on refractory lumbar pain after a collision in a 66-year-old woman with prior lumbar surgery. Case reports describe individual patients and cannot establish that a treatment works for everyone.
Does chiropractic care correct scoliosis caused by a car accident?
No single case shows that. In the case on this page, a 12.3 degree lumbar curve measured 2.0 degrees after 16 weeks, but the first X-ray was taken while muscle spasm was present, and part of that change may reflect the spasm resolving. Dr. Justin M. Dick, DC reports these measurements with their limits stated, because one patient's result does not predict another's.
Where is Clear Life Scoliosis and Chiropractic Center located?
Clear Life Scoliosis and Chiropractic Center is at 8814 Rachel Freeman Way, Suite 103, Charlotte, NC 28278. Phone 980-368-0766. The practice sees patients from Charlotte, Huntersville, Ballantyne, Matthews, Concord, Mooresville, Rock Hill SC, and Fort Mill SC.
Service Area
Clear Life Scoliosis and Chiropractic Center sees post-collision and scoliosis patients from Charlotte, NC, Huntersville, NC, Ballantyne, NC, Matthews, NC, Concord, NC, Mooresville, NC, Rock Hill, SC, and Fort Mill, SC.
Related Pages
- Personal Injury and Car Accident Care in Charlotte
- About Scoliosis
- Scoliosis Treatment Options
- Scoliosis Care Program
- Research and Evidence
- Dr. Justin M. Dick, DC: Published Research
- Sagittal Alignment in Geriatric Patients With Scoliosis
- Refractory Lumbar Pain After a Car Accident in a Geriatric Patient
- Patient Testimonials
- Questions and Answers
- Meet Our Team
- Contact Clear Life
Clear Life Scoliosis and Chiropractic Center
Dr. Justin M. Dick, DC
8814 Rachel Freeman Way, Suite 103, Charlotte, NC 28278
Phone: 980-368-0766 · Email: office@clearlifescoliosis.com
This case review describes one patient. Results vary, and one case does not predict another. This page is educational and is not a substitute for an individual examination.
Justin Dick
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