Looking for compassionate physical therapy care following a car accident? Call our team at (908) 252-0242.
Car accidents are often traumatic incidents that can force you to have to face serious injuries. While dealing with these injuries and debilitating pain is often a long process, physical therapy after car accidents can help patients speed up their recovery.
At Natural Medicine & Rehabilitation, we see patients from all walks of life achieve their physical and recovery goals by embracing the many benefits of physical therapy. As Somerset’s professional physical therapist team, we are passionate about helping people overcome the various challenges of car accidents by helping their bodies get back to normal quicker. While physical therapy is not a miracle cure-all solution, it can help you enjoy a better recovery experience and help you feel stronger both physically and mentally.
What You Should Know About Car Accident Physical Therapy and How It Can Help You
Around 6 million car accidents happen in the United States every year. Out of those, 3 million people received injuries as a result of their accident.
The unfortunate reality is that car accidents are not an uncommon occurrence. From inexperienced drivers to roadway hazards and people driving under the influence of various substances, car accidents can happen for a lot of different reasons. Unfortunately, this also means that millions of people every year will have to deal with often life-altering injuries as a result.
So how can physical therapy help? First, we need to talk about what physical therapy actually is and how it’s unique.
A physical therapist is an educated medical professional who helps patients improve their range of motion, increase mobility, and regain independence through customized treatment plans that focus on how the body moves. Although non-invasive, physical therapy is an extremely effective practice that can help patients dealing with a wide range of different issues, boasting an impressive success rate of 60%.
A severe car accident could leave you with various types of injuries, ranging from sore muscles to broken bones and whiplash. These injuries can prevent you from accomplishing routine tasks or enjoying certain activities. A physical therapist can help by examining your condition and creating a treatment plan involving various exercises and stretches to help boost your recovery.
Common Car Accident Injuries Physical Therapists Treat
Whether you have a slight headache or a serious gash following a car accident, it’s vital to seek medical attention right away. Even if you feel fine, some injuries can be worse than they initially seem, and a doctor can identify them before they worsen.
After an auto accident, once you visit the emergency room or your primary care doctor and receive a diagnosis, your physical therapist can create a personalized treatment plan to help you speed up your recovery time and improve your quality of life. In addition to soft tissue injuries, physical therapy after car accidents can also treat the following:
Injuries to Your Back
Back injuries are common following a car crash. In fact, car accidents account for nearly half of all new spinal cord injuries every year in the U.S., according to the Mayo Clinic. Back injuries can include strained back muscles, herniated discs, and more.
Treating back injuries as soon as possible is crucial because your spine connects to your nervous system. As such, injuries like herniated discs can cause pain to radiate throughout your entire body rather than stay in one spot.
Traumatic Brain Injuries and Head Injuries
Head injuries are among the most serious issues that can occur after an accident, especially traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). TBIs are the second most common car accident injury, and they can lead to long-term problems without proper treatment.
Common traumatic brain injuries include:
- Concussions
- Penetrations
- Contusions
Whiplash and Other Neck Injuries
While traumatic brain injuries are the second most common car accident injury, whiplash takes the number one spot. In fact, around 3 million people suffer whiplash injuries every year in the United States.
Although serious, whiplash isn’t the only neck injury that could result from a car accident. You could also suffer from fractures, inflammation, and muscle strains. Unfortunately, pain due to neck injuries can last up to or even over a year, making proper treatment essential.
Physical therapy treatments are especially vital for whiplash injuries because muscles could atrophy without it, causing even more pain.
Speed Up Your Recovery by Visiting a Physical Therapist
As you can see, physical therapy is highly beneficial for patients suffering from a wide range of injuries. Dealing with the effects of a car accident is frustrating enough, so let a physical therapist help improve your recovery and get you back on your feet quicker.
At Natural Medicine & Rehabilitation, we are passionate about helping patients with physical therapy after car accidents. We pay close attention to your physical goals and help you achieve them with treatment plans designed to help you overcome your injuries and boost recovery.
To schedule an appointment or learn more about physical therapy for car accident and other injuries, call our clinic at (908) 525-0242. Our doctors accept many insurance plans, including workers’ compensation, no-fault, and PIP (personal injury protection). Same-day appointments may be available.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Long Should I Go to Physical Therapy After a Car Accident?
No two injuries or patients are the same, so there’s no one answer to this question. The length of your physical therapy treatment will depend on several factors, such as the severity of your injury, how often you visit your physical therapist, your medical history, and more. To determine how long your treatment will last, discuss your current symptoms and goals with your physical therapist.
What Do Physical Therapists Use for Treatment?
In addition to exercises and stretches, physical therapists will also use heat, dry needling, ice, laser treatment, ultrasound, and electrical stimulation to help reduce swelling, relax muscles, and provide numerous other treatments.
What Are the Other Benefits of Physical Therapy After Car Accidents?
Going to physical therapy after a car accident offers a long list of benefits, including improved mental health, better range of motion, reduced pain, gaining strength and much more.
