If you’ve been in a car accident, the odds are high that you sustained some kind of injury. Depending on how serious the accident is, you might have only minor injuries such as cuts, bruises, or a sprain. More serious injuries might include broken bones, herniated discs, whiplash, brain injury, or damage to internal organs. What’s more, many people are in a state of shock after an accident, and may not notice certain muscle or joint pains right away.
Regardless of the severity of your auto accident injuries, the pain can interfere with your life and progress over time.
If you sustain any musculoskeletal-related injuries from an auto accident such as back or neck pain, arm or leg pain, pinched nerves, muscle pain, or fractures, you should see your primary care doctor or go directly to an orthopedist and request a referral for physical therapy.
Some of the benefits you’ll experience frorn therapy include:
Pain relief. Physical therapists can help relieve muscle, joint, ligament, tendon, and nerve pain using manual (hands-on) therapy techniques, or therapeutic exercise.
Minimize use of pain medications. The pain relief you experience from physical therapy may help decrease your need to take pain medication or shorten the length of time you need it.
Accelerate your recovery. Physical therapy promotes healing by restoring function and mobility. Your physical therapist will work with you to improve your flexibility, strength, and range of motion.
Prevent chronic symptoms. Injury syrup thorns may worsen over time, even lingering for months or years after the car accident. Accident victims who do not receive physical therapy are more likely to experience chronic pain as well as degenerative disc disease later in life. That’s why it’s vitally important to begin physical therapy sooner, rather than later.
Avoid or delay the need for surgery. Depending on your injury, physical therapy can help you heal to the point that surgery is not necessary. If you do end up needing surgery, physical therapy rnay make it possible for the orthopedic surgeon to use a less invasive approach. Plus, therapy both before and after surgery will speed your post-op recovery.
