Were You Recently Involved in a Car Accident? A Physical Therapist Can Help
If you have recently been in a car accident, you know how frightening it can be. Automobile accidents can result in injuries ranging from mild cuts and abrasions to broken bones and severe whiplash. This, undoubtedly, results in pain and discomfort following the accident.
If you are experiencing any sort of pain or discomfort from an automobile accident that you were involved in, it is in your best interest to consult with a physical therapist as soon as possible. Contact StepUp Physical Therapy today to learn more.
How physical therapy can help common car accident injuries
Back pain is one of the most common injuries sustained in car accidents. Severe back pain impacts more than half of the population, and many of those who developed back pain as a result of an injury (such as a car accident) end up dealing with that pain long term.
Some common injuries sustained in car accidents that can lead to back pain include:
- Whiplash
- Spinal fractures
- Herniated discs
- Spondylolisthesis
- Spinal stenosis
- Spinal cord injuries
One of the biggest problems with back pain is that once it develops, it is difficult to work around it. Because of this, many people begin modifying their movements, causing their back to compensate for the injury by putting pressure on other muscles – eventually leading to more back pain.
For this reason, back pain can frequently become a Catch-22 — avoiding the things that hurt your back could actually lead you to develop more pain in the future.
Although at this point many people may think to turn to a chiropractor, working with a physical therapist is the best way to cut your back pain issues in half.
PT over chiropractic medicine
With back pain (or any pain) following a car accident, physical therapy is the best choice.
One factor thought to increase back pain is the “locking up” of the spinal area once that initial pressure is introduced. When mobility is reduced by pain, the pain and pressure increases – the classic vicious cycle.
Chiropractic adjustments are thought to increase mobility in the area, therefore reducing pain. However, physical therapy has proven to be much more effective in managing pain and providing relief without having to “crack” or manipulate painful areas in the back.
Additionally, while chiropractic care targets only the painful area of the body in question, physical therapy focuses on how the body moves as a whole, allowing for a more fulfilling treatment plan with more successful results.
Chiropractic care focuses solely on the alignment of the spine, whereas, as defined by Healthline, “Pain-free movement is one of the key primary goals [of physical therapy].”
So, why choose a method that only focuses on one isolated area, when you can discover how your body as a whole can move more freely and comfortably?
Physical therapy can address back pain by improving your range of motion, strengthening the muscles in the affected areas, and using targeted massage to reduce tension.
In many situations, working with a physical therapist to improve core strength can significantly reduce the severity of your back pain, so you can recover from your injury and get back to living your life without discomfort.
Get started on the path toward pain relief with PT today
If you are experiencing pain following a car accident, consider turning to a physical therapist over a chiropractor.
Physical therapy is an alternative form of treatment that will help in both easing your pain and helping you heal overall. Physical therapy goes beyond pain relief and works to improve the overall function of your body by getting to the root of the problem.
When sustaining an injury from a car accident, especially one affecting the back, your ability to stand, walk, run, work, and move altogether may be hindered. These areas of function will be addressed at your initial appointment and throughout the entirety of your treatment plan.
The main goal of any physical therapy program is to relieve pain and get you back to your optimum levels of physical function, which your physical therapist will work hard to help you achieve.
Treatment plans will incorporate a series of treatments based on the nature of your condition, aimed at providing relief and recovery. This may include any combination of targeted exercises and stretches, manual therapy, ice and heat therapies, ultrasound, or electrical stimulation. Your treatment plan will also address strength, flexibility, and overall mobility, in order to get you back to your normal physical abilities.
These are all services that only a licensed physical therapist can provide to you! If you’ve been in a car accident and you’re living with pain, StepUp Physical Therapy is here for you.
Our advanced holistic methods will help you recover the right way. We’ll be your support system during every step of your treatment plan. Contact us today.
Tags: Physical Therapy, Physical Therapist, Health & Wellness, Chiropractic
