The nonfatal injuries that can come from a car accident can vary widely. They can depend on the speed the cars were going, where the impact was on the vehicle, and how your body was positioned at the time of the crash. Car accidents can be scary, but they’re incredibly common. While that doesn’t make it easier to deal with the aftermath, it does mean that there has been a ton of research done on treatments that can help manage and reduce the physical challenges that can come from being involved in a car crash. Many of those treatments are provided through physical therapy.
By learning about the different physical therapy services that can help after a car accident, you can collaborate with your physical therapist to determine which ones will be the best for you. We’ll also discuss how KC Rehab can help you on the journey to recovery.
5 physical therapy services worth trying after a car accident
A few of the most common car accident injuries include whiplash, bone fractures and bruises. A physical therapist can help nearly any injury that stems from a car accident. They can help reduce pain, restore the affected area’s mobility and accelerate the recovery process.
The key to a successful physical therapy treatment is personalization. It’s important to note that a treatment that might work for one person might not work for another. Since the severity of injuries can vary, the treatments should be beneficial to your specific injuries.
Here are five physical therapy services that may be helpful after a car accident:
Vestibular rehab — If you hit your head during an accident, you may develop vestibular issues, such as whiplash or a concussion, which can impact your balance. Head trauma can lead to symptoms such as dizziness, vertigo and lightheadedness. It can increase your risk of further injury, such as falling or fainting. Vestibular rehabilitation at a physical therapy clinic can help reduce symptoms from your vestibular issues for improved coordination. This may include exercises, balance retraining and gaze stability training.
Manual therapy — If you have persistent or worsening musculoskeletal pain, such as in your neck or back, you would likely benefit from manual therapy. A manual therapy technique often used for soft tissue injuries is soft tissue mobilization. It involves your therapist using their hands to find and break up tight tissue that’s causing pain and reduced mobility. You may also benefit from joint mobilization, which involves your physical therapist gently moving joints through their regular range of motion to loosen up the joint’s surrounding tissue.
Targeted exercises — Nearly every physical therapy treatment plan will include exercises. Following a car accident, you may experience muscle stiffness or weakness. Your physical therapist will guide you through safe and effective exercises to improve the strength, flexibility and mobility of the affected area. For example, they could show you exercises for strengthening your shoulder muscles or stretches for your stiff back.
Dry needling — If pain management is one of the main reasons that you’re seeking physical therapy, your physical therapist may recommend dry needling. This is a technique that uses thin filament needles to stimulate muscle spasms. When the muscles contract, they release tension that’s contributing to your pain. Dry needling can also improve muscle function and mobility.
Aquatics — If your car accident injuries have caused pain and weakness, especially in your lower extremities, that make it difficult to carry out exercises on your feet, you may benefit from aquatic therapy. By doing exercises in the water, you can alleviate the pressure on your muscles and joints. It’s especially helpful for strengthening muscles. The extra resistance from the water requires more power for exercises than would be needed on land.
KC Rehab can provide you with physical therapy following a car accident
A one-time traumatic event like a car accident can have a long-term impact on your physical health and wellness if not addressed properly. That’s why physical therapy is often recommended for people who have sustained injuries from a car accident.
At KC Rehab, we want to help you return to your daily activities following a car accident with as little pain and as much mobility as possible. We can design a personalized treatment plan, which may include dry needling or aquatic therapy, to make sure that your particular challenges are addressed.
Contact our team today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment.
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