A car accident can be very shocking for our bodies. The impact of a car collision can cause numerous painful conditions that still linger long after the accident.
However, Physical Therapy can effectively treat many of the conditions caused by car accidents.
Are you wondering about the most common car accident injuries? Here are the most common injuries caused by car accidents and how physical therapy can help.
The most common car accident injuries affect the musculoskeletal system. The impact of a car crash can damage your muscles, tendons, ligaments, and even bones. It may also irritate your nerves and cause nerve pain. The conditions that follow can be painful, but they can be addressed effectively with the help of a physical therapist.
Common injuries caused by car accidents
Whiplash
Car accidents commonly cause whiplash. This condition occurs when the soft tissue in the neck is torn or overstretched. The impact of a vehicle causes your head to be thrown rapidly back and forth, the muscles and ligaments in the neck are damaged.
Torn rotator cuff
Another common car accident injury is a torn rotator cuff. The rotator cuff refers to the grouping of four muscles that stabilize your shoulder. The impact of a car can tear the rotator cuff muscles when your arm or shoulder is thrown out of place violently. This process is similar to whiplash.
Slipped or Herniated disc
Your spinal discs are made of gel-like material meant to absorb forces acting on your spine. These discs are intended to reduce the stress on your actual spinal bones. The impact of a car accident can shock the spine. Your body may absorb enough force to slip one of your spinal discs out of place. If this happens, you have a herniated disc.
Physical therapy treatment after a car accident
While these conditions can be serious and pose problems to your body, it’s also important to remember the body has an amazing capacity to heal itself. Physical therapists seek to help this process and fill in the gaps on the road to recovery. Here are some common physical therapy techniques that can treat these common car accident injuries:
- Therapeutic exercises for strengthening the muscles.
- Targeted stretching techniques to maintain flexibility after an accident.
- Soft tissue mobilization techniques to reduce inflammation in the injured area.
- Joint mobilization techniques to reduce stiffness in an injured joint like the shoulder.
- Postural training to reduce the likelihood of bad posture forming after an accident.
Health Plus Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Center, Edison can help you recover from a car accident
If you think you sustained one of these common car accident injuries, then our team at Health Plus PT in Edison, NJ has you covered. Our physical therapists are experts in a variety of techniques for treating the painful conditions caused by car accidents.
our PT will build you a one-on-one treatment plan that helps promote recovery after a car accident.
Contact our team today for more information about common car accident injuries or to schedule an initial appointment.
For more information, Contact Us Today.
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