Motor Vehicle Accident Injuries
Motor Vehicle Accident Injuries
Individuals involved in motor vehicle accidents can experience pain and a number of injuries, no matter how large the impact is. A motor vehicle accident typically causes a quick and forceful flexion-extension motion of the body that strains the muscles, tendons, joints and ligaments. Research shows that physical therapy plays a crucial role in recovery after motor vehicle accidents (MVAs) by helping individuals decrease pain, regain movement, strength, and functionality.
Here’s how we help:
- Pain Management: Physical therapists use techniques like manual therapy, heat/cold therapy, and electrical stimulation to reduce pain and inflammation, helping patients feel more comfortable as they heal.
- Restoring Mobility: Accidents can lead to stiffness, limited range of motion, and muscle imbalances. Physical therapy includes exercises that improve flexibility, joint mobility, and overall body movement, which helps patients regain their full range of motion.
- Strengthening Muscles: After an accident, muscles may become weak or imbalanced. Targeted exercises in physical therapy help rebuild strength in the affected muscles, which supports stability and improves function.
- Rehabilitation of Injuries: Physical therapy addresses specific injuries such as whiplash, back pain, and soft tissue damage, aiding in the healing of sprains, strains, and fractures. Therapists create individualized treatment plans to address the severity of the injury and the specific body parts affected.
- Prevention of Long-Term Complications: By improving posture, strength, and movement patterns, physical therapy helps reduce the risk of chronic pain, long-term disability, or recurring injuries.
- Enhancing Functional Independence: Physical therapy enables patients to return to their daily activities, such as work, driving, and exercise, by improving physical function and reducing limitations caused by the accident.
Motor vehicle accidents (MVAs) can result in a wide range of injuries, varying in severity. Some of the most common injuries following a motor vehicle accident include:
- Whiplash: A soft tissue injury to the neck caused by the rapid back-and-forth movement of the head during a collision, leading to neck pain, stiffness, and headaches.
- Back Injuries: These include herniated discs, sprains, strains, or fractures of the spine, often causing pain, numbness, and limited mobility.
- Concussions (Traumatic Brain Injuries): A blow to the head or sudden jolt during a crash can lead to mild to moderate brain injury, resulting in headaches, dizziness, nausea, confusion, or memory problems.
- Fractures: Broken bones are common in accidents, especially in the limbs, ribs, and collarbones, due to the impact forces during a crash.
- Soft Tissue Injuries: Sprains, strains, and contusions (bruises) often occur when muscles, tendons, and ligaments are stretched or torn in the collision.
- Knee Injuries: Knees are often injured in car accidents due to impact with the dashboard or steering wheel, leading to ligament damage, fractures, or dislocations.
- Chest Injuries: Fractured ribs, sternum injuries, or internal injuries to organs such as the lungs, heart, or liver can occur due to the impact or the force from a seatbelt.
- Shoulder Injuries: These can include dislocations, fractures, or rotator cuff injuries due to the force of the accident or from bracing the body during impact.
- Spinal Cord Injuries: Damage to the spinal cord can lead to paralysis or loss of sensation, depending on the severity and location of the injury.
- Abdominal Injuries: Damage to internal organs such as the spleen, kidneys, or intestines can occur, often from direct impact or from seatbelt compression.