Why Physical Therapy is Important After a Car Accident
In the United States each year, there are over six million car accidents with two million people injured. It is essential to receive proper medical attention soon after a car accident, even if your injuries and pain appear to be mild. Some symptoms of injury following a car accident can take days or even weeks to appear. It’s important to undergo medical evaluation by your physician immediately following the accident. By beginning physical therapy treatment shortly thereafter, you can address pain, injury, and function issues before it becomes worse or develops into chronic pain.
Common Car Accident Injuries
Whiplash is the most common injury reported, often the result of a rear-end collision. Whiplash symptoms include pain and stiffness in the head, neck, and shoulder; loss of the neck’s range of motion; chronic migraine or headache; dizziness and fatigue; sensory disturbances; and blurred vision. Symptoms of whiplash can show up some time after the accident, but an initial evaluation post-accident can prevent worsening of symptoms over time. Prolonging treatment could result in long-term damage, chronic pain, and reduced mobility.
Other injuries that may result from a car accident include:
Concussion and brain injury
Headaches and dizziness
Shoulder pain [rotator cuff injury or bruising due to seat belt]
Neck pain [whiplash or fracture, strain, or sprain]
Back pain and spinal cord injuries [sprain, strain, or herniated disc]
Collarbone and rib injury
Knee, ankle, and foot injuries [if knee strikes dashboard or foot is jammed into floor]
Elbow, wrist, and hand injuries [due to gripping the steering wheel or bracing against the dashboard, leading to fractures or dislocation]
Physical Therapy Treatment for Car Accident Injuries
Physical therapists are qualified to treat minor and major injuries of the musculoskeletal system to prevent long-term pain and function issues. Physical therapy supports the recovery process, prevents long-term damage, reduces pain, helps patients avoid surgery, restores function, and increases mobility. Physical therapists work to repair and strengthen damaged muscles and tissues, improve flexibility, and address range of motion issues.
Physical therapy is a safe and effective way to ensure injured areas stay mobile and tissues don’t tighten and heal incorrectly. Physical therapy treatment helps you engage in physical activity safely. Physical activity helps reduce pain because movement pumps oxygenated blood and other nutrients to the injury site which helps the body heal itself.
A physical therapy treatment program begins with a thorough evaluation of the patient’s medical history, type and severity of the accident, and review of other treatments the patient may be receiving along with physical therapy. The physical therapist then customizes the treatment according to the patient’s needs, pain level, and injury.
Physical therapy treatment may include:
Active treatment for whiplash including posture control and neck rotation exercises
Manual therapy to mobilize joints, decrease scar tissue, reduce inflammation, and promote tissue healing
Strengthening exercises specifically tailored to the injury
Postural training for neck, shoulder, and back pain issues
Strengthening and stabilizing weakened areas of the body for greater overall function and mobility to reduce risk of re-injury or lasting pain
Graded exercise, vestibular rehabilitation, and balance training if the patient has experienced a concussion
Headache and migraine pain treated with myofascial release
Aquatic therapy: the heated water reduces pressure on the body as water supports the body’s weight and allows a patient to move more freely with less pain. Heated water also reduces swelling and inflammation.
Car accident injuries are serious incidents that can have a long-lasting effect on your health. Undergo a medical evaluation by your physician and then start rehabilitative treatment shortly after a car accident to help you reduce pain and manage injury safely and effectively. At Mangiarelli Rehabilitation, we are here to support you during the recovery process and help you regain function and mobility!
