Recovering from an auto accident often requires chiropractic care and physical therapy to heal residual injuries. Contact Comprehensive Healthcare Group for treatment and solutions.
Serious car crashes come with devastating injuries but even minor fender benders can take a toll on your health. If you’re experiencing stiffness and pain after a collision, consider receiving physical therapy for whiplash. This treatment plan helps relieve the strain in your neck and eliminate all of the symptoms of whiplash.
Discover the ins and outs of physical therapy for car accident survivors, particularly those suffering from whiplash. To reap the benefits of treatment, contact Comprehensive Healthcare Group for physical therapy in Oceanside, NY.
Understanding Whiplash: Causes and Symptoms
According to a study published in Current Reviews in Musculoskeletal Medicine, 83% of people involved in an auto collision experience whiplash after car accidents, making it one of the most common accident injuries to sustain. In the U.S. alone, whiplash impacts four people for every 1,000, per a review in the American Journal of Medicine. Learn more about this health condition below.
Typical Causes of Whiplash
While many people associate whiplash with car accidents, it’s possible to need physical therapy for whiplash even if you’re not involved in a collision. Experts at Rush University Medical Center report that whiplash can occur anytime your head suddenly snaps forward and then quickly jolts backward to overstretch the soft tissue in your cervical spine. Aside from auto accidents, people can experience whiplash after a fall as well as participating in sports like:
- Boxing
- Football
- Gymnastics
- Skiing or snowboarding
Age plays an important role in treatment and explains how older adults can benefit from physical therapy for whiplash. As we age, our muscles naturally lose flexibility and joints become prone to issues like arthritis. This can exacerbate whiplash injuries in older adults.
Common Symptoms of Whiplash After Car Accidents
Patients suffering from whiplash often feel neck pain or stiffness, but other symptoms include:
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Numb shoulders or arms
- Tingling sensations in the arms
- Fatigue
- Blurred vision
Failing to treat these symptoms immediately can lead to chronic pain and long-term disability, which affects 40% of whiplash patients according to a study in the European Journal of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine. Seek medical care at the first sign of whiplash to prevent long-term disability following a car crash.
Exploring Whiplash Treatment: Physical Therapy Solutions
In terms of whiplash treatment, physical therapy reigns supreme. Patients may opt for chiropractic care and other holistic methods for pain management but physical therapy for whiplash helps restore one’s range of motion, strength, and flexibility in the cervical spine.
Discover common treatment methods physical therapists use when treating whiplash symptoms.
Passive Physical Therapy
When you first begin physical therapy for whiplash, your muscles, ligaments, and other soft tissue around the neck will be compromised. This may limit you from performing various exercises or movements to increase your range of motion. A physical therapist will gauge your abilities during an initial examination and decide to deploy passive measures to ease muscle tension and relieve pain.
Common forms of passive physical therapy include:
- Soft tissue massage: Massaging stiff muscles stimulates blood flow and reduces tension. A survey from the American Massage Therapy Association notes the popularity of massage therapy for pain relief, with 46% of respondents saying they receive massages to minimize pain.
- Hot and cold therapy: Tackle pain and inflammation by applying heat and ice to the affected area for several minutes.
- Ultrasound therapy: Ultrasound sound waves boost circulation to promote healing and reduce muscle spasms.
Active Physical Therapy
A major part of receiving physical therapy in Valley Stream, NY, is active exercises that help strengthen your weak muscles and joints. Experts will guide you through each movement to prevent further injury and increase the resistance of each one as you gain strength and flexibility. They will also give you simple exercises that you can do at home to further aid your recovery.
Common whiplash injury exercises you might perform in a physical therapy session include:
- Cervical retractions
- Scapular retractions
- Towel-assisted head rotations
All of these exercises focus on simple neck movements without causing additional strain. As you get comfortable with each exercise, you’ll find that they come easier and you have an increased range of motion.
A combination of active and passive physical therapy measures helps whiplash patients combat pain and regain their full range of motion in their neck and upper spine. Depending on the severity of your injuries, a physical therapist will implement both types of treatment for your optimum comfort and fast healing.
Contact Comprehensive Healthcare Group for Effective Whiplash Treatment and Physical Therapy in Valley Stream, NY
Undergoing physical therapy for whiplash can be one of the most effective ways to recover from an auto accident. Let the experts at Comprehensive Healthcare Group facilitate your healing with physical therapy services that improve your range of motion and flexibility in your cervical spine.
To begin your healing journey, give us a call at 516-764-7760 (Oceanside office) or 516-593-7990 (Valley Stream office). Our doctors accept most insurance plans, including workers’ compensation, no-fault, and PIP (personal injury protection). Same-day appointments may be available. Learn more today.
Frequently Asked Questions
Find out more about physical therapy treatment for common car accident injuries, including whiplash.
Why Is Physical Therapy Important After a Car Crash?
Physical therapy helps heal common car accident injuries like whiplash while preventing chronic pain and disability. Exercises provide pain relief so patients can return to their normal routine without issue.
Can Whiplash Symptoms Occur Immediately After a Car Accident?
No, some people don’t report feeling whiplash symptoms until several days after a car accident.
How Long Will I Need Physical Therapy for Whiplash?
Treatment plans depend on the severity of your injury but most patients endure physical therapy for eight to 12 weeks.
Anyone suffering from severe neck pain after car accidents should take advantage of physical therapy for whiplash. Comprehensive Healthcare Group can help you recover from your injuries quickly.