Car accidents are one of the most frightening times in a person’s life. It happens so suddenly and often without warning that you hardly have time to realize what’s happening until it’s over. And, once it’s over, many people deal with injuries that are painful or limit the function of their bodies.
If you have recently been involved in a car accident or if you are simply trying to be prepared for what to do just in case, you should continue reading to discover how physical therapy helps after an accident.
Benefits of physical therapy after an accident
Starting physical therapy as soon as possible after an accident can make a big impact on your recovery from an injury. Damaged joints and muscles can heal improperly or develop scar tissue if they do not recover under the guidance of a licensed physical therapist.
Treating car accident injuries with physical therapy also helps to reduce pain and improve your range of motion while you’re recovering. Physical therapists can target muscles and joints affected by your injury and apply treatments that help reduce pressure, engage the muscles and break up scar tissue.
Treating pain using physical therapy methods helps reduce your dependency on pain medication for coping with pain. This is beneficial because medication can be addictive and usually causes unwanted side effects.
How physical therapists treat car accident injuries
Most non-life-threatening car accident injuries that affect your muscles, bones, joints or soft tissue can be treated with physical therapy. At Whatcom Physical Therapy, our physical therapists can examine your condition and determine a customized course of treatment that will work to help you recover as quickly and with as little pain as possible.
Treatments vary from person to person depending on the nature and severity of the injury. Typically, treatments include some form of:
- Therapeutic exercise
- Gentle stretching
- Hands-on soft tissue mobilization
- Hands-on joint mobilization
- Posture education
- Patient education for moving around safely while recovering
Visit Whatcom Physical Therapy for treatment after an automobile accident
If you have been injured in an automobile accident, you should talk to one of our team members about your treatment options. We can examine your condition and recommend a personalized course of treatment to meet your needs. Contact us today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment.
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