Physiotherapy After A Car Accident

Have you been in a car accident? If you are experiencing pain as a result of certain types of injury, a physiotherapist will be able to you with your recovery. There are many types of injury that you can sustain in a car accident, but we’ll take a closer look at the most common car accident-related problems we treat.

Whiplash

If you have had a rear-end collision in your car, you can easily end up with whiplash. You will notice pain and stiffness, have headaches, upper back and shoulder pain, and even sensations of dizziness or numbness.

You should see your doctor so that he or she can assess your injury and prescribe medications as needed. This is the time to ask whether physiotherapy can help you – although most doctors will recommend physiotherapy for whiplash.

Physical therapy treatments for whiplash include exercises to improve your range of motion, ultrasound therapy, and massage. Many whiplash patients must wear a neck brace to reduce strain on the neck and allow their injury time to heal.

Concussion

Sometimes, it takes a while before car accident victims begin to notice the symptoms of concussion. You may have a bad headache, feel nauseous and dizzy, or experience visual disturbances.

Once again, your doctor is your first port of call. The doctor determines the severity of the problem and performs diagnostics to see whether surgery is needed. At the very least, you will be instructed to rest, and if your balance has been affected, your doctor might recommend physiotherapy.

Our treatment would include massage, a course of exercises you can do at home and electrical stimulation treatments.

Herniated Disc

Because your spine has been injured, your doctor will first check the extent of the damage using X-rays, CT scans, or MRIs. Surgery may or may not be recommended, but in either case, working with a physiotherapist will help you during your recovery.

Treatments may include cold or heat treatments, spinal decompression, exercise and massage. If extended bedrest has weakened your body, your physiotherapist will also help you with exercises to recover your strength.

Physiotherapy After Car Accident Injuries in General

Car accidents often result in serious injuries. Patients have to spend a long time recovering, and although all the rest, immobilization of limbs, and so on serves its purpose, the body is weakened. As a result, you become prone to further injuries, and can’t just proceed from bed rest to normal activity.

We often help hospital patients with simple exercises that can help to limit the negative effects of enforced immobility. Once they are out of hospital, they might still need additional help in recovering their physical strength and vitality and in managing pain.

We don’t promise miracle cures, but we can help with pain relief, and by following your physical therapy program, you will recover much faster and more comprehensively than you would if you simply let nature take its course.

We love what we do, because seeing patients restored to active lifestyles after the physical trauma of a car accident is one of the most rewarding things about a career in physiotherapy.