3 million people in the United States are injured every year in car accidents. These injuries can cause symptoms from stiffness, achiness, and pain to headaches, dizziness, fatigue, and balance and coordination issues and can range in severity from mild to potentially disabling.
Physical therapy can play an important role in rehabilitation from car crash injuries and help the road to recovery go as smoothly as possible.
Common injuries after a car accident
You may not know the extent of your injuries immediately following a car accident. Adrenaline coursing through your system can mask injuries and make it difficult to detect them until a day or more has passed. It’s best to get evaluated by a medical professional as soon as possible to address any issues and start treatment immediately if needed.
Whiplash and back injuries are among the most common car crash injuries, and physical therapy can help treat either.
Whiplash. This occurs when the head is thrown rapidly back and forth during a collision, forcing the neck to extend beyond its normal range of motion. Whiplash, a strain injury to the soft tissues in the back of the neck, is one of the most common injuries that result in neck pain. If you have whiplash, you may have tingling sensations that radiate from your neck down your arms. You may also have “pins and needles” sensations in your neck, shoulders, and other areas. Stiffness, tenderness, and achiness in your upper back are also common, as is a knotted feeling in your neck muscles. A headache and/or concussion may also accompany whiplash. An exam by a medical professional immediately after the accident should always include a head injury evaluation.
Back injuries. Car accidents can result in different kinds of back injury, depending on the speed and direction of the crash and whether the vehicle rolls over. There are often three types of impacts in car accidents: front impact, side impact, and rear impact. Front-impact accidents can result in torn or herniated discs in the neck, while side-impact crashes can lead to torso, head, and neck injuries. Rear-end crashes can cause whiplash, damage to the cervical vertebrae, ligament damage, and spinal cord damage. Any of these can potentially result in damage to the thoracic or lumbar spine, facet joint injury, or vertebral fractures.
Accompanying these injuries are symptoms like:
- Stiffness and pain in the shoulders, head and neck, resulting in difficulty turning your head or looking up or down.
- Nerve compression, characterized by radiating pain or loss of range of motion in the neck.
- Migraines or headaches.
- Tingling and numbness in the upper extremities.
- Dizziness and fatigue.
- Blurred vision and memory problems, possibly indicating a traumatic head injury or concussion
Why physical therapy is a must for car accident injury recovery
- Physical therapy supports the recovery process following a car accident. You may not realize the extent of your injuries until after you’ve returned to your normal activities. Physical therapy can help you increase strength, improve flexibility, and minimize pain.
- Physical therapy can prevent long-term damage and health issues such as chronic pain and migraines, especially if you start immediately after the accident. In fact, beginning care as soon as possible can even help you avoid chronic pain in the years to come.
- Physical activity helps reduce pain. Staying physically active increases circulation, helping move oxygenated blood to the injury site and speed the healing process. A physical therapist (PT) can recommend exercises that address pain points, improve body mechanics, and increase overall mobility and function – all of which assist in a quicker recovery.
- Physical therapy can help you avoid surgery. Even if you have non-life-threatening injuries, you may require surgery down the road for physical damage sustained in a car accident. The muscles, tendons, and ligaments that protect other structures in the body can be damaged in a vehicle crash, leading to the need for costly interventions later on. By contrast, physical therapy can greatly reduce the likelihood of developing conditions that require surgery.
- Physical therapy can address pain from old injuries. Limited mobility and reduced function from injuries sustained months or years ago can follow you for long periods of time. Physical therapy can help optimize your muscle function and recovery.
- Physical therapy can reduce the need for painkillers. Pain from car accidents and other injuries is among the top reasons people resort to opioids and other pain medications. With physical therapy, the risk of drug dependency can be avoided.
How Fyzical can help you recover after a car accident injury
The benefits of physical therapy for helping to minimize post-accident recovery time are undeniable. With a combination of manual therapy and therapeutic exercise, you can reduce your pain and the chances of developing a permanent disability while rebuilding strength and improving mobility. Our experienced PTs will evaluate you and create a personalized treatment program. We’ll also show you how to reduce your chance of re-injuring yourself during the recovery process. Working closely with your doctor, case manager, and insurance agent, we will help you move through the recovery process at a pace that’s right for you.
Improve your car accident injury outcome with the help of Fyzical
Our team can provide a free assessment to evaluate your condition and design a customized physical therapy plan for you. Let’s get you moving forward after your injury. We look forward to being a part of your rehab program. Don’t wait to seek treatment. Get in touch with us today!