Being involved in a car accident can be a traumatic experience. Unfortunately, over 12 million car accidents happen each year in the United States. Those involved in a car accident can and do experience injuries, whether mild or severe, as a result of the car crash. These injuries can be painful and frustrating, often affecting everyday life and sometimes leading to long-term health concerns. When frustration sets in, know that there are routes for healing that can bring about relief and healing. Physical therapy after an accident can be extremely beneficial for overcoming injuries, building strength, increasing mobility, and decreasing the risk of reinjury or long-term consequences. It is an effective method for aiding in the recovery process for a variety of types of car accident injuries and one that your doctor is likely to recommend as a part of your recovery. With so many added advantages of undergoing physical therapy, it’s easy to see why so many are seeing success.
About Physical Therapists
Physical therapists are those trained in administering physical therapy after an injury. Physical therapists will have extensive training in order to provide the highest quality of care to their patients. The ultimate goal of a physical therapist is to create a specific treatment plan for patients that will improve mobility and slowly increase their level of independence to see that each person is able to live life as normally as possible once again. Physical therapists can be involved in several parts of the recovery process, such as rehabilitation after an injury, preventing a future injury, or treating a range of injuries to various parts of the body. Whatever your injury after a car accident, this non-invasive method guided by a physical therapist can be included in your treatment plan to help you on the path to a full recovery.
Physical Therapy After a Car Accident
Car accidents, even those considered to be minor fender benders, can lead to injuries. Whether injuries are minor or more severe, physical therapy provides exercises and tools to help the body gain strength and increase movement that can aid in the healing process. The length of time required to utilize all the physical therapy has to offer can vary based on the types and severity of each injury, and the process will look different for everyone. For instance, someone with a minor sprain or slight tear may only require a few weeks of physical therapy, while someone that had to undergo surgery to repair an injury after a car accident may need physical therapy for a few months afterward. In addition, there are several correlations between physical independence and mental health. Not only can suffering injuries from a car accident take a toll on your physical health, but it can affect you mentally as well. The sooner you are able to retrain your body to do what is required to regain your independence, the better your overall health and well-being will be, both mentally and physically.
Injuries That May Require Physical Therapy
There are numerous injuries that can benefit from physical therapy. PT is aimed to address a wide variety of injuries that cause pain or limited mobility or even old injuries that will still flare up from time to time. Here are some of the injuries that can see improvement with physical therapy.
Neck Injuries
Neck injuries are a top complaint after a car crash. The force of a crash can force the neck forward in such a way that it causes injury to the neck muscles or soft tissue. Whiplash is one of the most common car accident injuries. It is often accompanied by inflammation or stiffness and soreness of the neck, shoulders, and back. One of the worst possible things you can do when suffering from whiplash is nothing at all. If you don’t move, stretch, or exercise the affected areas, such as is done in physical therapy, the muscles can atrophy or the recovery can be even more painful. Other types of car accident neck injuries that could require physical therapy include muscle strain, bulging or herniated discs, vertebrae fractures, cervical dislocations, or spinal cord injuries.
Back Injuries
Another common injury as a result of a car accident is a back injury. Again, it is blunt force trauma because of a car crash that impacts the back and spine. The spine plays a significant role in the function of the body. It is where many nerves are housed. The vertebrae and discs between vertebrae that make up the spine are small and more susceptible to injury. Back strain often occurs because of a car accident, even the mildest of fender benders. While not considered a serious injury, a back strain can still be very painful and affect your ability to perform even the most basic of tasks. Another common back injury is a herniated disc. A herniated disc occurs when the small discs between the vertebrae slip out of place and rupture. This can be an extremely painful back injury that can cause pain not only in the back but also throughout the body. Because of the many nerves surrounding the vertebrae, a herniated disc that presses upon these nerves can also cause pain to radiate through the lower back, buttocks, and legs.
Head Injuries
When involved in a car accident, the head can be thrust forward and can hit the air back, steering wheel, or windshield. This type of injury causes the brain to hit the skull bone, which can lead to a brain injury. Even if you don’t feel like you have suffered an injury right away, many car accident injury symptoms are delayed. The most common traumatic brain injuries that occur because of a car accident include concussions, contusions, or penetrations.
Other Injuries
Other injuries could also occur during a car accident, such as soft tissue damage resulting in strains or tears or broken bones, including arms, legs, or ribs.
Benefits of Physical Therapy
When it comes to physical therapy for car accident injuries, there are many benefits that make treatment worthwhile.
Faster Healing and Recovery Time
Who doesn’t want to heal quickly after experiencing an injury? One of the biggest benefits of undergoing physical therapy is that you have a better chance of healing properly and more efficiently than if you tried to heal on your own. Even more, without the assistance of a physical therapist, many people are likely to either push themselves too hard in the effort to recover or run the risk of reinjuring themselves and only compounding the problem, slowing the recovery process and possibly increasing the risk of chronic pain. Working with a physical therapist who can provide a powerful combination of proper strengthening exercises and stretches to promote healing of the injured area will also help you find the quickest way to recovery. It will increase your range of motion, make you feel strong, and help you in your ability to slowly do more and more each day. Follow your physical therapist’s recommendations both during the appointment and at home for the best results.
Long-Term Injury and Pain Prevention
Not every injury is going to be a quick turnaround recovery time. Sometimes, the goal of physical therapy is to help reduce initial pain. Another added benefit of working with a physical therapist is that you can focus on specific areas of pain for long-term management to find movements and activities that will reduce pain. Furthermore, patients who work with a physical therapist to manage levels of pain can often avoid using long-term pain medication to avoid the unwanted side effects that can come with its use.
Increased Independence
With physical therapy, improved strength can lead to increased independence. Patients who suffer from traumatic brain injuries can see vast improvements in performing activities independently with the help of physical therapy. A physical therapist works with those suffering from TBIs to provide proper education, improve balance, and feel more comfortable in performing everyday activities so you can feel more comfortable going about your daily life more independently.
Improved Lifestyle
Improved mobility can make you feel more in control of your body. In turn, it can improve your overall health and well-being. Many patients who don’t see improvements in their injuries report suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, or even dissociation. But with physical therapy, the small improvements that occur each day help aid not only in physical health but also in improving mental health for an overall better lifestyle.
What to Expect During a Physical Therapy Appointment
It is not uncommon to feel apprehensive before your first physical therapy appointment. Knowing what to expect can help ease your reservations.
Initial Examination
At your first visit, a physical therapist will perform a thorough evaluation of your injury in order to determine the right course of treatment for you. Your physical therapist may ask detailed questions to find out more about your medical history, your injury, and your current level of ability. They will take measurements of strength, joint function, flexibility, neurological function, and range of motion to get a full picture of your injury. After the initial examination, then your physical therapist will be able to prescribe a course of treatment to meet your needs.
Treatment Plan
Once the injury has been assessed, you can move forward with a proper treatment plan that is specific to your injury. During your appointment, your physical therapist will work with you on your treatment plan through exercises and stretches that aim to target and improve the injured areas. Not only will you work through these exercises and stretches during the appointment, but you will learn how to do them on your own at home as well so you can continue to work and build strength in between appointments. Besides stretches, physical therapy treatment can also include such things as soft tissue or joint massages. The goal of these types of massages is to improve blood flow to ease the pain. Other therapy methods that can be used include ice, heat, laser treatment, dry needling, or electrical stimulation. Before beginning a treatment plan, a physical therapist will first discuss the planned course of treatment with patients so they are aware of the ins and outs of the process.
Ease Pain and Improve Recovery with Physical Therapy
It can feel extremely discouraging to look ahead to the recovery process right after suffering injuries from a car accident. Having your independence stripped from you is one of the most frustrating things that can happen. When your physical toll and mental toll have taken a hit, it’s time to take control of your life once again. There is no doubt that undergoing physical therapy after a car accident can change your life for the better. Find relief from pain and see exceptional progress along the way with the help of our expert physical therapists at AICA College Park. Our team of physical therapists provides a hand on approach that ensures your recovery is at the center. If you have suffered a car accident injury, we can identify the source of your injury, help ease pain, and get you back on the road to living a pain-free life once again. We offer a wide range of services, such as pain management, high-tech imaging, and more, all in one convenient place. From start to finish, AICA medical professionals at College Park are here for you.
If you have been in a car accident and have been recently injured or are still suffering from the lingering aftereffects of a previous accident, find out more about how physical therapy can be beneficial for you. Don’t put off treatment any longer. Your health is of the utmost importance. Call us today, schedule an appointment, and get started on the journey to improved health and wellness. We look forward to working with you to get back to normal life after an accident.