Whether it’s a fender bender or a total wreck, a car accident can turn your good day into a rotten one in seconds. Even minor injuries sustained in a car accident can be long-lasting. That’s why physical therapy for car accident injuries can be critical for your long term recovery.
Simply put, physical therapy can help you feel better faster. And that’s particularly important after a car accident, as many people are worried that their pain might be permanent–or that they’re going to require painful surgery in order to get back to normal life. Physical therapy can offer a non-surgical way to feel better and help your body heal, so you can get back to your daily life.
Common Injuries Sustained in a No Fault Car Accident
Over 6 million people experience a car accident every year. In Queens Village, NY, nearly 400 collisions happened in just one month. While the injuries sustained in a car accident can vary in severity, the most common are relatively minor. But that doesn’t mean they don’t cause long lasting pain.
Some of the most common no fault auto accident injuries include the following:
- Headaches
- Whiplash
- Loss of range of motion and stiffness
- Dizziness and fatigue
- Back pain and shoulder pain
- Joint pain (especially knee pain)
Consider Starting With Physical Therapy
These are all generally symptoms that can be successfully treated with physical therapy as a first step. Often, physical therapy on its own can lead to a dramatic reduction in pain and symptoms. We often find that patients who went to the ER or urgent care first are frustrated with the care they received. That’s because many auto accident related injuries involve soft tissue and joints. Physical therapy works very well for these types of injuries. If problems persist, your physical therapist can refer you to a specialist. Even after surgery, physical therapy is generally recommended.
How Physical Therapy for No Fault Car Accident Injuries Can Help
When you first come to Diaspo Chiropractic and Physical Therapy after an auto accident, we’ll take your medical history and do a complete exam. We will then determine whether you need physical therapy, chiropractic care, a combination of the two or something else altogether. The benefits of physical therapy can be significant.
Physical Therapy Can Speed Up the Healing Process
Many mild injuries will heal on their own after an automobile accident. However, this healing process can take a significant amount of time, and most patients are eager to return to normal life as quickly as possible. Physical therapy can help your body heal faster, so you can get back to doing what you love.
Physical Therapy Can Reduce Pain
Physical therapy can help you build your muscle strength and natural pain tolerances. At Diaspo Chiropractic & Physical Therapy, we’ll also develop a specialized and individualized program for you that’s designed to improve your overall flexibility. This means you won’t be so stiff, which will help limit pain and improve mobility. Additionally, physical therapy helps get oxygenated blood to the injury site, helping your body heal faster–so you feel better.
Physical Therapy Can Help Avoid Long Term Injuries
The damage caused by a no fault car accident is not always immediately evident. In some cases, it may even be years before you start to feel the impacts. Physical therapy can help prevent many of those long term aches and pains by treating your injuries immediately.
As a result, physical therapy for car accident injuries can help reduce chronic headaches and the joint pains commonly associated with these injuries. Even if you don’t think you need physical therapy, it might be worth talking to your doctor to see if preventing these long term injuries makes sense for you.
What to Expect During Your Physical Therapy
Your auto accident physical therapist will develop a rehabilitation program that will be unique to you and your experience. During your physical therapy, you can expect some of the following:
- Postural training: This will help resolve head, neck, and some back pain. This will be especially important if your posture has changed to accommodate pain caused by your auto accident.
- Manual therapy: These techniques will focus primarily on your joints, helping to reduce scar tissue and inflammation. When your joints are working better, you’ll experience less pain and discomfort.
- Custom exercises: In an effort to strengthen specific areas of your body, your physical therapist will design custom exercise routines that target weakened areas of the body. This will help restore strength so you heal faster.
When Should You See an Auto Accident Physical Therapist?
Because your injury may have been caused by the acts of another driver, some patients feel as though they need to secure legal representation before seeking care. This is not true. Because New York is a no-fault state, the driver’s insurance will cover your treatment.
This means you can seek out physical therapy before hiring a lawyer. In fact, when it comes to physical therapy, it’s usually good to find care as quickly as possible. The earlier in the process the physical therapy starts, the more effective it usually is.
Contact us today to find out how physical therapy can help you recover from an auto accident injury faster–and get back to living the life you love.
