Three injuries that physical therapy can treat after your auto accident

An auto accident can be traumatic for your body. Depending on the severity of the accident, you may experience a number of painful conditions resulting from an injury. A medical professional can perform a thorough evaluation following an accident to help determine the presence of any injuries. They can also recommend physical therapy after your auto accident.

Have you been in an auto accident? Physical therapy is your next step toward managing your symptoms. 

Three injuries after an auto accident that can be treated by a physical therapist

Auto accidents can commonly result in musculoskeletal pain. This happens as a result of pain caused by damage to your muscles, bones, tendons, ligaments or nerves. The traumatic impact of an auto accident can cause damage to these essential components of your body. This can lead to a number of painful conditions. Fortunately, physical therapy can help manage these conditions. Here are three of the most common injuries caused by auto accidents that can be treated by physical therapists: 

• Whiplash — This condition commonly occurs from auto collisions. Whiplash refers to the overstretching and tearing of the soft tissue in the neck. When your head is thrown rapidly in one direction during an accident, it can tear the muscles and ligaments in the neck. This leads to pain and discomfort, but physical therapy can be effective in treating whiplash.

• Torn rotator cuff — If you experience shoulder pain after an accident, then you may have a torn rotator cuff. The rotator cuff is a group of four muscles that hold your shoulder and arm in place. The impact of an auto accident can tear the rotator cuff muscles similar to whiplash. Symptoms of a torn rotator cuff include pain and discomfort when moving the affected shoulder or arm. 

• Herniated disc — Your spinal discs are meant to absorb forces acting on your spine to reduce the stress on your actual bones, like lifting heavy objects or the impact of running. During an auto accident, your body may absorb an overwhelming amount of force that can cause an injury to one of your discs. This is known as a herniated disc. It can be painful if it compresses your nerves, which may result in back pain or sciatica.

Physical therapy after an auto accident 

There are many techniques used by physical therapists to treat the injuries caused by an auto accident. Here are the most common:

• Manual therapy is a hands-on technique that  can help treat soft tissue injuries like whiplash or a torn rotator cuff. Manual therapy can reduce the tension in the muscles by stimulating the soft tissue and improving the blood flow to injured areas. This can also help provide pain relief. 

• Therapeutic exercise is important for strengthening the muscles affected by an auto accident. An injury may lead you to use that muscle less because of the discomfort you feel, but it’s important to stretch and strengthen your muscles so you don’t lose your flexibility, which can lead to more problems later. 

Advent Physical Therapy is ready to help you recover from an auto accident

If you have been injured in an auto accident, physical therapy is your next step toward recovery. There are numerous benefits to pursuing physical therapy after an auto accident. Our team at Advent Physical Therapy is ready to build you a personalized treatment plan that takes all your injuries into account so we can help you recover effectively. 

Contact our team today for more information about physical therapy after an auto accident or to schedule an initial appointment.