Sometimes it just happens, you get in a car accident. Some are so minor that you don’t get hurt, but some are not.
Depending on how you got hit you could have anything from broken bones to headaches to whiplash. So once you get your emergency treatment taken care of, can physical therapy help?
In a word, yes physical therapy CAN help after an accident!
No matter what the injury, physical therapy can help improve your situation.
The physical therapist’s job is to help you re-learn or re-train your body to do all the activities that you did with ease before you were injured. Your joints and muscles need to be treated with care so they can work like they did before.
If you have “minor” injuries like whiplash or just general aches and pains, physical therapists can help you to focus on those areas that need help. With focused therapy, you can recover faster and be more comfortable in a much shorter time.
If you have any neurological injuries, physical therapists can help you retrain your brain to re-learn basics like how to brush your teeth, bathe and dress yourself, and even fix a simple meal and feed yourself.
If the injury is to your spinal cord and you find yourself in a wheelchair, physical therapy will help you keep your muscles strong so that should you heal enough to walk again, your leg muscles are ready to be used again.
Common accident injuries
More commonly after an accident you will need physical therapy for joint, bone and ligament injuries. Your therapist will set up an exercise program which will help increase your mobility, strength, flexibility and normalcy.
Don’t be afraid to ask your doctor if physical therapy will benefit you after a car accident. Don’t let their car insurance company dictate your treatment. Ask your doctor and let them be your advocate.
If you have been in a car accident, give Specialized Physical Therapy a call today for a free pain evaluation appointment! (720) 493-1181
