By Dr. Justin M. Dick, DC · Senior Fellow, CLEAR Scoliosis Institute · CNMT, ARRT(N)(CT)
A 29-year-old woman came to Clear Life Scoliosis and Chiropractic Center in Charlotte after an oncoming car turned into the front driver's side of her vehicle at about 45 mph. She rated her headache, neck pain, and dizziness each at 10 out of 10, present all day. Her Functional Rating Index was 28 out of 40, where higher scores mean more disability.
This page covers what we found, what changed over about 23 weeks, and what we cannot attribute to our care. I wrote it for people in Charlotte sorting out care after a crash and for the attorneys and physicians who refer them. Identifying details have been removed.
Presentation at Intake
She had been very active before the crash, with regular cardio and low-impact exercise most days of the week, and she reported two or three prior minor car accidents. At intake, pain from the upper neck at C1 and C2 spread up the left side of her head into the back of the skull with neck movement. Spurling's, foraminal compression, and shoulder depressor tests reproduced neck pain on both sides.
The neurological exam carried the most weight. Manual muscle testing was 3 out of 5 in the right deltoid, biceps, and wrist extensors and in the left iliopsoas, with all other groups at 5 out of 5. Pinwheel testing found sensory deficits on the right at C1, C2, and C5 through C7. Reflexes were normal. Within three weeks she was also reporting brain fog and forgetfulness at 10 out of 10.
Her lateral neck film three weeks after intake showed a C2 to C7 curve of -25.7°, against an ideal of -42°, which is a 38.8% loss. Forward head position measured 7.8 mm, inside the normal range of under 15 mm.
How She Was Treated at Clear Life in Charlotte
Neck adjusting was done with an instrument (ArthroStim) rather than manual thrust. Care also included cervical traction, Mirror Image® positioning from Chiropractic BioPhysics, thoracic extension work, proprioceptive training on a wobble cushion, whole-body vibration, and home exercises. Visits were frequent in the first weeks and tapered over about 23 weeks.
Other clinicians were involved throughout. A neurologist managed her concussion and prescribed medication, which she said did not help much. She had physical therapy for the concussion, saw an orthopedic provider, and had an MRI. Her outcome reflects all of that care and the passage of time, not ours alone.
Intake vs. 23-Week Re-Examination
| Measure | Intake | At 23 weeks |
|---|---|---|
| Headache (0 to 10) | 10, constant | 0 |
| Neck pain (0 to 10) | 10, constant | 0 |
| Dizziness (0 to 10) | 10, constant | 1, about 10% of the day |
| Brain fog and forgetfulness (0 to 10) | 10 at 3 weeks | 1 |
| Functional Rating Index (0 to 40) | 28 | 33 at 3 weeks; 29 at 6 weeks; 1 at 23 weeks |
| Muscle strength | 3/5 in right deltoid, biceps, and wrist extensors and left iliopsoas | 5/5 in all muscle groups tested |
| Sensation testing (pinwheel) | Deficits at right C1, C2, and C5 to C7 | No deficits |
| Spurling's and foraminal compression tests | Reproduced neck pain on both sides | No pain |
| Arm reflexes and Achilles reflexes | +2, normal | +2, normal |
Symptom ratings and the Functional Rating Index are her own reports. Strength, sensation, reflexes, and orthopedic tests are examiner findings.
Daily Life at 23 Weeks
She had returned to singing and some household work. She described handling stress with her children better, with occasional slips. Driving was manageable, with anxiety only around reckless drivers. She estimated her energy at about 80% better. Her sleep was mostly better, though some nights away from her own bed made it hard to judge. She had not yet returned to seeing clients in her own practice.
What These Numbers Show and What They Do Not
Two findings carry the most weight. The examiner findings changed: weakness in four muscle groups and sensory deficits at five levels returned to normal. And her Functional Rating Index fell from 28 to 1, a validated questionnaire measured at both ends of care.
The path was not a straight line. Her questionnaire score got worse before it got better, rising to 33 at three weeks, and her disability did not drop meaningfully until after six weeks. Anyone reading this case as proof that early care produces fast results should look at that curve.
Concussion care from a neurologist and a physical therapist ran alongside ours, and many people improve in the months after a collision without any treatment. One patient with no control group cannot separate those effects from ours. This page also reports no change in her neck curve, because I am not presenting follow-up film measurements here.
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, the Functional Rating Index, and upright radiographs when indicated. The personal injury program page covers the process in detail.
Frequently Asked Questions
What X-rays are taken after a car accident at a chiropractor in Charlotte, NC?
At Clear Life Scoliosis and Chiropractic Center in Charlotte, NC, Dr. Justin M. Dick, DC takes upright neck and low back X-rays after a collision, and flexion and extension views of the neck when the history or exam calls for them. The films are measured for neck curve, forward head position, segmental motion, and lumbar alignment. He holds CNMT and ARRT(N)(CT) imaging credentials in addition to his chiropractic license.
Can headaches and dizziness after a car accident come from the neck?
They can come from the neck, from a concussion, or from both, and the symptoms overlap. The patient on this page was treated for her neck at Clear Life in Charlotte while a neurologist and a physical therapist managed her concussion. With that much overlapping care, no single provider can claim the result.
What is the Functional Rating Index?
The Functional Rating Index is a 10-item questionnaire covering pain intensity, sleep, personal care, travel, work, recreation, pain frequency, lifting, walking, and standing. Each item is scored 0 to 4, for a total of 0 to 40, where higher scores mean more disability. Dr. Justin M. Dick, DC uses it at intake and at re-examinations so recovery is tracked with a number the patient reports, not only with the doctor's impression.
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.
How long does recovery from whiplash and concussion symptoms take?
It varies, and no single case predicts it. The patient on this page scored worse on her disability questionnaire at three weeks than at intake, and reached a score of 1 out of 40 at about 23 weeks of care in Charlotte. Recovery is judged by repeat examination and repeat questionnaires, not by the calendar.
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, Steele Creek, NC, Berewick, 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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