Car accident injuries are the leading cause of most injuries! Just alone in 2012, there were over 5 million car accidents in the country. The damage after a car accident can be immense. There are both fatalities and injuries. An accident injury from a car wreck can vary from person to person, but there are some common ones.
Common car accident injuries
Head and back injuries from a car wreck are typically the most serious. Head injuries can lead to vision problems, skull fractures, and concussions. With a concussion, you may experience dizziness and headaches. Another common car accident injury is a herniated disk. Neck and chest injuries are also common, with whiplash being the most common accident injury. Whiplash can be very painful and restrict movement. The sudden movement of the neck and head in a car accident can cause whiplash. Blunt force trauma from a car accident can collapse lungs and break ribs.
Indeed, car accidents can result in a wide variety of injuries. For a quicker recovery, it’s best to engage in physical therapy treatment.
The reasons why you should get physical therapy after a motor vehicle accident
There are many, many reasons to undergo physical therapy after you’ve been in a car crash. It supports the recovery process. After a car accident, you may experience pain, reduced range of motion, headaches or stiffness. Keep in mind that these symptoms may not appear right after a car accident. Physical therapy helps you to keep pain symptoms at bay, improve flexibility, increase strength and recover faster. It can also prevent long-term damage from a car accident, including migraines and chronic pain. The sooner you get physical therapy after a car wreck, the more likely you are to have a pain-free life. As a matter of fact, a Medscape study revealed that those who didn’t receive physical therapy were much more likely to suffer from degenerative disc disease.
Physical therapy also helps reduce pain. Its exercise pumps oxygen, blood, and nutrients to the injury site and enhances healing. Every exercise and stretch has a specific goal for recovery and improves function and mobility. A physical therapist will develop a personalized treatment plan targeted to your car injury. Physical therapy also helps you avoid surgery. It strengthens ligaments, tendons, and muscles, which protect the body’s structures. It’s also a much more cost-effective solution.
It’s never too late to start rehab for old injuries!
Physical therapy can also restore function in patients with old car accident injuries. You can still benefit from physical therapy even if you had an injury years ago. Using cardiovascular rehab techniques and strength training, it can help relieve old pain and improve mobility. Plus, it’s a non-invasive treatment, and you won’t wind up having to rely on pain medications for relief.
Physical therapists can even treat vertigo due to a car accident. In as little as one treatment, they can fix a dysfunction in the vestibular system. Types of physical therapy include massage, manual manipulation, ultrasound, ice and cold therapy, specific exercises, targeted massage, stretching and aquatic therapy. It’s a holistic approach to healing after being in a car accident. In addition to treatment after a car accident injury, physical therapists can provide services for pulmonary rehab, neurologic rehab, cardiovascular, orthopedic and post-op care.
If you’re suffering from a car accident injury, don’t delay any longer. Contact Marketplace Physical Therapy & Wellness Center today, and let our trained physical therapists in Riverside, Riverside/Corona, Chino, Redlands and Beaumont, CA help you get on your road to recovery. We’ll have a one-on-one appointment with you, do a comprehensive evaluation and create a treatment plan targeted for your injury. We’ve helped many others recover from a car accident injury and can help you too.
What types of car accident injuries do physical therapists treat?
Physical therapists treat a wide range of car accident injuries including whiplash, neck pain, shoulder injuries, lower back pain, knee pain, soft tissue strains, sprains, postural dysfunction, and nerve irritation that often result from rear-end collisions and auto trauma.
How can physical therapy help after a car accident?
Physical therapy can reduce pain, restore mobility, correct alignment issues, improve strength, reduce inflammation, and help car accident injury patients regain proper movement patterns to support long-term healing and prevent chronic pain.
What is the most common injury after a car accident that physical therapy treats?
One of the most common car accident injuries treated with physical therapy is whiplash, caused by rapid forward and backward motion of the neck. Whiplash therapy includes gentle stretching, range of motion exercises, stabilization training, and manual therapy to reduce pain and improve function.
When should I start auto injury physical therapy after a car accident?
It is best to start auto injury physical therapy as soon as possible after a car accident, ideally within days of the collision. Early treatment helps minimize pain, prevent stiffness, restore proper movement, and reduce the risk of long-term complications following whiplash and other soft tissue injuries.
What symptoms after a car accident indicate I need physical therapy?
Symptoms such as neck stiffness, lower back pain, shoulder pain, headaches, numbness or tingling in the arms or legs, difficulty turning your head, muscle weakness, and pain with daily activities are all signs you may benefit from a car accident injury physical therapy evaluation.
Does physical therapy help lower back pain from a car accident?
Yes. Physical therapists create individualized lower back pain treatment plans that include core stabilization exercises, flexibility work, manual therapy, and posture correction to reduce pain and restore strength after a motor vehicle collision.
What kinds of treatments are used in car accident injury rehab?
Car accident injury rehab may include manual therapy, therapeutic exercises, stretching, neuromuscular reeducation, posture training, soft tissue mobilization, traction, and pain‑management techniques to help you recover faster and return to normal activities.
How long does recovery take with physical therapy after a car accident?
Recovery timelines depend on the severity of the injuries. Some patients notice improvements within a few weeks of consistent treatment, while more complex conditions like severe whiplash or disc injuries may require several months of structured physical therapy.
Can physical therapy help with headaches after a car accident?
Yes. Physical therapy can reduce post‑car accident headaches by addressing neck and upper back muscle tension, improving posture, increasing cervical mobility, and using targeted manual therapy and exercises to relieve discomfort.
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