You have just gone through a car accident – imagine it.
One of the scariest incidents that can happen to you given the outrageously high number of traffic and pedestrian fatalities each year on roads in communities around the world. In the first half of 2021 alone, it’s estimated that 20 Americans died in motor vehicle crashes, an 18 percent increase from the previous year when many cars were kept idle from COVID-19 lockdowns. Clearly, as the world returns to semi-normalcy, we may also see a grim uptick in car accidents and fatalities.
In the immediate aftermath of a car crash, it’s pretty understandable for your heart to be racing. Moreover, your mind is likely racing with the steps that you need to take next and the people that you need to call – first responders, insurance agents, lawyers, loved ones to assure them that you are okay.
But don’t neglect another important phone call that you need to make – to a physical therapist. (It’s a good argument for the logic of keeping your physician’s number handy at all times.)
Following an accident, it’s understandable that you will be experiencing pain, headaches, or even unable to complete the usual range of motions that you are accustomed to performing in your everyday life. It’s understandable that you will quickly be seeking out someone who can help advise on the steps you can consider taking to begin returning to normal.
After all, you may be experiencing a series of symptoms in short order that don’t always manifest themselves immediately; these can include:
- Fatigue and dizziness
- Blurred vision or problems with memory
- Stiffness and pain throughout your neck, shoulders, and head
- Tingling and numbness
However, you may also not experience these symptoms right away. You might feel perfectly fine. But don’t take the risk of neglecting a dormant problem waiting to rear its head; call your physical therapist. You may not have this phone call top of mind.
You might feel like you are perfectly fine and you have walked away unscathed from your accident. But the fact is that this can be a very vulnerable time for your body as it absorbs and processes the trauma that you have gone through. Don’t hesitate and don’t take risks – seek out a physical therapist as soon as possible following an auto accident.
Otherwise, imbalances can lead to long-term injuries, especially if issues involving scar tissue and pain aren’t addressed.
A few points to consider in those days following an accident:
- Seeking out physical therapy following your accident can help accelerate the pace of your recovery time.
- Working with a physical therapist can help to improve your range of motion and strengthen your muscles – a key consideration when you are seeking to quickly get back to your normal routine,
- Physical therapy can prevent long-term linger effects such as chronic pains and migraines.