Neck pain after a car accident? Physical therapy can help.

If you are ever involved in a car accident there is a high possibility that you will suffer from some sort of neck pain due to a common condition of whiplash. If you have recently been in a car accident and are suffering from neck pain, starting physical therapy is beneficial to recovering from the injury efficiently and effectively.

When you first see a physical therapist you will have to go through a screening process first to determine where the pain is originating from and if there is any further injury or  imbalances. The physical therapist will have you go through a variety of exercises to strengthen the surrounding areas of the injured area, specifically the neck and shoulders in this case. The physical therapist will also apply various treatment methods to alleviate the pain and swelling of the injury such as cold or heat application, deep tissue massage, ultrasound to help break up scar tissue, and electrical stimulation.

All of these techniques would typically be done prior to starting any of the exercises, in order to reduce inflammation and pain. In physical therapy, you will also learn how to stretch the muscles of the neck as well as improve its’ range of motion and posture. One technique used by physical therapists is cervical traction, which alleviates the pressure on the affected discs by opening the spaces between the vertebrae. Most of the time you will be performing the exercises in front of a mirror so that you can see for yourself some of the imbalances and posture problems you may be having.

Suffering a neck injury from a car accident is not something to be taken lightly. You should do everything you can to have the best recovery process possible which is why physical therapy is such a great choice. You will have someone along the way to guide you in the safest and most effective way possible so that you will feel your best in no time.