If you have been in a car accident, you must seek medical treatment immediately. The medical team will examine your injuries and treat you with rest, medication, and braces or casts as needed. While these methods will help you begin the recovery process, they will not fully repair your injuries. A focused physical therapy program, if required, can put you on the path to recovery after sufficient rest.

Common Car Accident Injuries

Car accidents can result in any number of injuries, including:

Whiplash and other soft tissue injuries
Bruises, scraps, and cuts
Fractures in the ribs, shoulders, legs, and arms
Muscle and tendon injuries
Concussions and other head injuries

Risks of Untreated Whiplash

Whiplash is one of the most common car accident injuries. Symptoms include numbness, vision problems, headaches, nausea, dizziness, shoulder pain, head and neck stiffness and pain, and pain in the arm and hand. Leaving whiplash untreated can result in long-term consequences including but not limited to:

Difficulty sleeping
Loss of mobility in the head, neck, and shoulders
Vertigo
Ear ringing
Migraines and other headaches

Whiplash and other car accident injuries should be treated immediately. Do not assume any car accident injury is minor without first consulting with a trained physician and physical therapist. The longer you wait to get treatment, the worse these issues can become.

Benefits of Physical Therapy for Car Injuries

Physical therapy has numerous benefits for recovery from car accident injuries. Exercise therapy, occupational therapy, massage therapy, and other treatments can work together to get you back to normal as quickly as possible. Physical therapy can:

Accelerate healing
Reduce and manage pain
Increase mobility
Reduce inflammation
Reduce stiffness
Reduce scar tissue
Increase energy

The sooner you begin physical therapy treatment (when you are cleared to do so), the sooner you will be able to get back to functioning normally. Sticking with a proven physical therapy program and performing exercises at home as needed can help you get back to work and back to your daily life.