Recover your strength and restore your comfortable daily life. Call (516) 469-3607 today to learn more about the benefits of physical therapy after car accidents.
Car accidents are tragic incidents that have affected most Americans in some way. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were, on average, over 6 million police-reported car accidents each year from 2010 to 2020. For those fortunate enough to survive the crashes, recovery can be a long road.
Auto accidents can result in immediate injuries and long-lasting chronic pain. While some turn to prescribed pharmaceuticals to heal their bodies and ease the pain, medication is typically a poor long-term solution that can result in opioid abuse. The National Institute on Drug Abuse reports that 21% to 29% of patients misuse physician-prescribed opioids for chronic pain.
For various reasons, of which we’ll cover five of the most essential, physical therapy after a car accident is the wiser, healthier, and more effective path. If you want to heal your injury or chronic pain, contact our medical professionals at Quantum Physical Therapy & Chiropractic Care today.
As your trusted physical therapist in New York, our doctors accept most insurance plans, including workers’ compensation, no-fault, and PIP (personal injury protection), and same-day appointments may be available.
What to Know About Auto Accident Physical Therapy
Auto accidents can result in numerous types of injuries and chronic pain. Physical therapists work to create personalized treatment plans for patients to diagnose and address the source of the injury and pain. Some common injuries and chronic conditions that auto accident physical therapy can help treat include:
- Shoulder, head, and neck injuries, pain, or stiffness
- Chronic headaches and migraines
- Reduced range of motion in the neck and other areas
- Dizziness and fatigue
- Numbness and tingling in the upper extremities
- Occasional blurred vision and memory issues
Auto accident physical therapy aims to provide comprehensive treatment for patients’ physical problems. It is an all-encompassing and ever-changing healing process with goals that include decreasing pain and inflammation, improving strength and range of motion, and restoring balance.
Physical therapy assists patients in returning to their daily activities without constant pain and discomfort. Patients experience better work and home life as a result of physical therapy, making it the ideal option following car accidents.
Why Choose Car Accident Physical Therapy?
There are numerous reasons to undergo physical therapy after a car accident. Along with it being a safe and drug-free treatment method, it is also highly effective at addressing a wide range of post-accident concerns. Let’s take a look at five crucial reasons why physical therapy after a car accident is the best choice.
Reason 1: Reduce Immediate and Lasting Pain
Survivors of car accidents may deal with several injuries and chronic conditions that cause immediate and lasting pain. As we mentioned, though prescribed pain medications can help address current issues, they simply mask the pain rather than find and heal the cause. As the pain returns, patients often build up a reliance on opioids, leading to dangerous levels of abuse.
Physical therapy helps reduce both injury-related and chronic pain without the use of medication. Physical therapists utilize specific exercises, stretching, and other therapeutic methods to heal the root of the pain and increase long-term relief.
Reason 2: Promote a Quick and Effective Recovery Process
The recovery process following a car accident can be long and challenging. It can take a while to realize what different injuries you’ve suffered, and your body may move awkwardly as it compensates for newfound injuries.
Physical therapy promotes a quicker and more effective recovery process. Different stretches and exercises help prevent your body from compensating for different bodily injuries by improving your strength and mobility. Through physical therapy, you’ll likely shorten recovery times and heal the body more completely.
Reason 3: Prevent Long-Term Damage and Pain
If you fail to address them properly, post-accident injuries, chronic pain, and other issues like migraines can persist for a lifetime. While you may still be able to heal your pain and injuries further down the road, the needed recovery time and effort will only increase the longer you wait. The sooner you undergo physical therapy after a car accident, the more likely you’ll be to prevent long-term damage and pain.
Physical therapy can also help reduce the risk of secondary injuries. Those who suffer musculoskeletal injuries have higher chances of future injuries to the same area of the body. Physical therapy helps strengthen the affected area to reduce these chances.
Reason 4: Avoid Surgery
Another vital reason to undergo physical therapy after a car accident is to avoid surgery for a non-life-threatening injury. Progress made during physical therapy can, in some cases, render surgery unnecessary. This helps patients save money and prevents invasive procedures.
Reason 5: Restore Function and Mobility
The injuries from a car accident may reduce your function and mobility, making work and daily activities a struggle. Car accident physical therapy can help restore range of motion and general bodily functions to help you return to a more comfortable life.
Contact Quantum Physical Therapy & Chiropractic Care for Quality New York Physical Therapy
Consider undergoing physical therapy after a car accident if you want the best way to heal injuries, promote pain management, and strengthen your body and functions. Contact our team at Quantum Physical Therapy & Chiropractic Care today for quality physical therapy in New York.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Long Does It Take for Muscles to Heal After a Car Accident?
Generally, car accident victims usually heal their muscles around six weeks after the accident. However, this timeline can vary significantly based on the type of injury and the amount of physical therapy the victim does following the accident.
How Long Is Physical Therapy After Whiplash?
After suffering whiplash, you may need around two weeks of physical therapy before you can resume daily activities. You may need to continue physical therapy as you ease back into your daily routine.
How Soon After an Injury Should You Start Physical Therapy?
Most physical therapists recommend waiting around 72 hours to begin physical therapy after a car accident.