Car accidents can cause a range of physical and mental injuries to a person. Some of these injuries can have long term effects on a person and make it difficult for them to do their day-to-day activities.
It is important to note that some injuries that you may sustain from a car accident may not show symptoms immediately after the accident and it is crucial for you to obtain a full assessment of your body to ensure you have not sustained any physical injuries that may show symptoms later.
We have discussed some of the most common injuries that you may experience in a car accident and we have provided some explanation on the ways to prevent such injuries, and how these injuries can be treated.
Most Common Injuries After Car accidents
Whiplash/neck injuries
Whiplash is a type of condition commonly caused in a car accident. Whiplash may not show symptoms in the first 24 hours of the accident and it is important to have full examination of the body after an accident to ensure no injuries go unnoticed.
The symptoms of this condition include having severe neck pain, dizziness, headaches, fatigue, blurred vision, muscle spasm, weakness and more.
The patients experiencing this condition often start feeling better after 2-3 weeks, however there are also cases where the patient not recovered fully from the injury for months or even years.
Head injuries
Head injuries can be quite serious depending on the type of injury. Two of the head injuries that are most common after Car accidents are concussion and contusion.
With concussion you may experience symptoms such as dizziness, confusion, fatigue, not being able to concentrate or vomiting. Contusion can also have similar symptoms to concussion, however with contusion you may also experience slurred speech and feeling numbness and tingling in the damaged area.
Bone fractures
Fractures (also known as broken bones) are damages that were caused on the patient’s bones in an accident or a fall. There are also other causes such some medical conditions that can cause fractures such as osteoporosis.
Physiotherapy can play a significant role in recovering fractures or broken bones. The most common goals that your physiotherapy sessions will aim to achieve may include:
- Muscle assessment
- Providing treatments for strengthening of muscles
- Improving your range of motion and flexibility
- Helping with management of pain
- Improving functional mobility and function
- Joint mobilisation & stiffness
- Promotion of healing process
- Using different treatments to reduce swelling
knee Trauma
Knee injuries can have many different causes. Nevertheless, one of the common causes can be injuries that were caused due to a car accident. You may experience swelling, dislocation of your knee, severe pain, reduced strength & motion and knee fracture. Some knee traumas may require surgery due to the severity of the condition, however this is a matter that needs to be decided by your surgeon.
If you require more information about knee pain, click the tab ‘conditions we treat’ and ‘knee pain’.
Sprain/strain of muscle
Muscle sprain/strain relates to a damaged that was caused to the patient’s soft tissues. Such as nerves, disks, veins, tendons, ligaments and more.
Some symptoms that you may experience from sprain/strain of your muscle can include pain, swelling, reduction of strength or in some cases you may not be able to use the damaged muscle at all.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
PTSD is a type of mental condition that relates to traumatic events that a person may experience or witness in their life. Traumatic event can be death of a family member, Car accidents, bushfires or war and other types of events that may traumatise a person.
A person with PTSD may experience hopelessness about the future and have constant negative thoughts. Other symptoms of this condition may include having flashbacks of the traumatising event, nightmares, issues with memory and having no interest in daily activities that the person may have enjoyed before.
Pre & post-surgery rehabilitation
Some of the injuries explained above in car accidents may require surgery. When you are undergoing a surgery, there are a lot of important factors that need to be considered for your surgery to be successful and there are different stages for your body to be able to prepare and recover from the surgery.
Pre-rehabilitation is before undergoing surgery and the is to reduce the chances of any complications at the time of your surgery, and post-rehabilitation is to recover your body from the surgery.
Each stage explained above requires a different plan and process. A physiotherapist working closely with your surgeon and GP, can provide you with a plan for each stage so that you are able to prepare and later recover from your surgery.
When Do I need to see a physiotherapist after my car accident?
A professional physiotherapist can work with your treating specialist or GP to provide you with a treatment plan that can help you manage your pain and allow you to recover from the injuries you have sustained in the car accident. In order to find out when you need to see a physiotherapist after a car accident, speak with your GP or specialist to find out more.
The services that a physiotherapist can provide for you after a Car accidents include:
- Treatments for elimination or management of the pain
- Providing education for patients
- Treatments can prevent future complications and the patient is able to get back to their daily activities without pain
- Providing advice on home exercises and techniques of stretching
The types of treatment we offer include:
- Laser therapy.
- Shockwave therapy
- Hydrotherapy
- Exercise prescription
- Electrotherapy
- Kinesiology taping
- Rigid taping
- Dry needling
- Manual therapy and hands on treatment
- Soft tissue massage
If you like to find out more about whether you require a physiotherapy professional for the treatment of your condition, please consult with your GP or specialist or call us on (02) 9637 5708.
Related words :
Physiotherapist in Merrylands – Physiotherapist in Parramatta – Physiotherapist in Auburn – Physiotherapist in Granville – Shockwave therapy in Merrylands – NDIS physio in Merrylands – Physio in Merrylands – Physio in Parramatta – Physio in Auburn – Laser therapy in Merrylands – Physio in Granville – Car accidents