Car Accident Physical Therapy
Car Accident Physical Therapy for Whiplash in Salt Lake City
Whiplash is one of the most common injuries resulting from a car accident, but it can present in a variety of different ways. Sometimes it is obvious immediately after the car accident takes place, while other times, several days or a week may pass before symptoms of whiplash really set in.
It occurs when the head and neck are rapidly forced back and forth or side to side. It can lead to injuries of neck muscles, ligaments, and even the bony vertebrate. Common symptoms of whiplash include neck or back pain, stiffness, loss of spinal range of motion, dizziness, headache, and sometimes even shoulder/arm pain.
The small muscles which are attached directly to the back of the spinal column can become weakened following whiplash. It is often necessary to wake up and strengthen these muscles in order to normalize function and decrease pain. If a spinal nerve or disc is compressed during a whiplash injury, this can also lead to numbness, tingling, weakness, or other limitations at the shoulder, elbow, or hand.
With a proper assessment, physical therapy can utilize various techniques to effectively treat the source of pain:
stretching
soft-tissue mobilization
IASTM
cupping
joint manipulation
taping
dry needling
specific exercises
Headache Treatment
Headaches are a common occurrence in our country, estimated to affect over 45 million people each year. They can be exacerbated following a car accident or can be a side-effect associated with whiplash or muscular tension injuries.
Symptoms can differ among individuals who experience them, but consist of aching or dull pain, throbbing, tenderness around the head or neck, burning, sharp or piercing pain, and tightness in the neck or upper shoulder muscles. With migraines, people can sometimes have visual disturbances such as blind spots or seeing stars. Physical therapy can help to decrease muscle tension, decrease compression of the spine, improve blood flow, and reduce stress.
While these things may help improve multiple types of headaches, physical therapy is most effective in treating tension-type and post-traumatic headaches. Spinal manipulation, exercise, neuromuscular re-education, stretching, soft-tissue mobilization, and dry needling are all tools of physical therapy which have been shown to reduce pain and impairment caused by these types of headaches.
Tens of thousands of car accidents occur in Salt Lake City every year, resulting in thousands of injuries to those involved. Even minor accidents can result in chronic pain that may drag on for weeks and months. Common injuries resulting from car accidents include whiplash, concussions, muscle strains, joint dislocations, damage to the spine, and neck/back injuries. While time will help to decrease the severity of injury, many of these conditions will not heal completely on their own without proper treatment.