Motorcycle injury treatment: What to expect

Riding a motorcycle puts you at a significantly higher risk of sustaining potentially fatal injuries in an accident. In fact, motorcyclists are 4 times as likely to sustain an injury on the roads and 24 times more likely to experience fatal injuries than car passengers. 

Are you one of the many who’ve experienced a motorcycle injury? Here are some of the most common causes and what you can expect from treatment.

What are some of the most common types of motorcycle injuries?

Many motorcyclists will experience a motorcycle accident at some point during their lives. Motorcycles are notorious for causing various traumatic physical injuries, even when the motorcyclist takes the proper precautions, like wearing a helmet. Typical injuries include:

• Spinal injuries — Injuries to the spine are frequent among those who get hurt riding motorcycles. The spine is especially vulnerable during motorcycle accidents. Riders may experience broken vertebrae, herniated discs, and even paralysis. 
• Whiplash — Whiplash occurs when the head and neck lurch forward and then backward too fast. It can cause significant pain in the neck and a limited range of motion. 
• Broken bones — Many victims of motorcycle accidents sustain bone fractures. Broken arms, legs, vertebrae, and ribs are all typical injuries among motorcyclists. 
• Strains and sprains — Falling off a motorcycle, getting pinned underneath it, and colliding with other vehicles can cause a variety of strains and sprains as a result. 
• Traumatic brain injury (TBI) — Traumatic brain injuries include concussions, brain bleeds, skull fractures and more.

How can physical therapy treatment help someone with a motorcycle injury?

Physical therapy is a great treatment option if you have a motorcycle-related injury. Therapists work to determine the severity of an injury and how they can help you reach recovery. Here are some of the goals of physical therapists as they help you work toward recovery:

• Relieve pain — Physical therapists often use soft tissue mobilization for this type of injury. The technique promotes healing, reduces inflammation and improves pain levels. 
• Build strength — After an injury, the muscle surrounding the injury will often weaken and atrophy. PT can be helpful for building muscle without placing extra strain on the body. 
• Improve range of motion — Physical therapy is useful for improving range of motion in stiff areas of the body. Inactivity after an injury can lead to stiffness; however, that stiffness can be remedied during PT sessions. Joint mobilization, soft tissue mobilization and other PT techniques can be used for this purpose. 
• Break up scar tissue — If you’ve developed scar tissue months and even years after a motorcycle injury, PT can help you break up excessive scar tissue growth. The tissue that forms after sustaining an injury can grow in excess and limit mobility and range of motion. Fortunately, physical therapists have the tools and techniques to break up that scar tissue and improve mobility. Many physical therapists use a technique called instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM) to treat excessive scar tissue development.

Advent Physical Therapy can help you recover from your motorcycle-related injury

If you’re experiencing pain or discomfort from an injury you sustained during a motorcycle accident, our physical therapists can help. At Advent Physical Therapy, we use a variety of evidence-based PT treatments to help each one of our patients improve their physical condition.

Our patients’ health and wellness are our first priority at Advent Physical Therapy. We understand how much your health means to you, and we want to help you reach your unique goals. If your motorcycle injury is causing you trouble — even years after an accident — we’ve got you covered. We’re a team-oriented group of professionals who work with each of our patients jointly to create the best outcomes for all. 

We can help you create a treatment plan to optimize your health. Advent PT values building relationships with our patients and helping them prevent pain and injury from recurring. If you are interested in starting treatment with us, let us provide a free screening to help us address your health concerns.

Contact our team today for more information on how we can help with your motorcycle injury or to schedule an initial appointment with us