Getting into a car accident is stressful enough. Dealing with pain only adds to the agony. Physical therapy can help.
It’s best if you make the decision to seek physical therapy within 96 hours after the accident. If you don’t get treatment right away, you’re more at risk of developing long-term health issues.
Rest and over-the-counter pain relievers are often the first steps towards relief, but that doesn’t fix any tissue that may be damaged.
Whiplash Symptoms
The most common type of accident is a rear-end collision, which can cause whiplash. It happens when the neck extends beyond the normal range of motion and then comes back. Many symptoms can come from whiplash.
- Pain and stiffness in the neck, head, and shoulders
- Loss of neck range of motion
- Migraines or headaches
- Tingling and numbness in the upper extremities
- Dizziness and fatigue
- Blurred vision and memory problems
The symptoms don’t always begin right away, which is why it is important to get a professional opinion about possible whiplash instead of just treating yourself. You might not realize you have a problem before it’s too late for minor treatment intervention.
Other Types of Injuries
Whiplash isn’t the only type of injury that can come from a car accident. You might have bone, joint, or ligament problems. Physical therapy can also help increase mobility, strength, and flexibility after these types of injuries.
A lack of pain does not necessarily mean an absence of an injury. Inflammation can happen which can cause discomfort.
The physical therapy itself might cause some mild soreness and swelling until the body gets used to the activity.
Preventing Long-Term Damage
The sooner you get on the road to recovery, the more treatment options you have. Physical therapy can improve mobility, strength, and flexibility. Immediate therapy can help decrease the chance of degenerative disc disease.
Moving around can help reduce pain and get oxygen flowing into your blood, helping your body heal itself. Moving is better than resting, and a trained physical therapist can create a program just for you to help your body learn to do all the things you did before the car accident.
It’s important for a trained professional to help rebuild and strengthen muscles you may have injured. Masking symptoms does not ultimately fix the problem.
B3 Medical in Tampa offers all kinds of rehabilitative health services for people recovering from accidents. The goal is to help each patient improve their physical abilities. Our therapists look at the whole body to make sure they’re treating the entire injury, not just the symptoms.
Contact us for an appointment today so our physical therapists can examine you to help you get things back to normal.
