Motor Vehicle Accidents

WHAT ARE THE MOST COMMON TYPES OF INJURIES AFTER A CAR ACCIDENT?

Car accidents can have a large and negative impact on your life. Not only are they stressful, but they can also bring a wide variety of injuries that can be painful and change the way that you move. 

It’s common to have one or more of the following injuries after a Motor Vehicle Accident (MVA). 

Whiplash or Neck Pain

Whiplash is the most common injury after a car accident. But what does this really mean? Whiplash is when you get a neck injury after a forceful and sudden back-and-forth movement of the neck. When this happens, you can damage ligaments and muscles of your neck. Whiplash can result in uncomfortable symptoms like neck pain, neck stiffness, headaches, tenderness in the shoulders and upper back, and tingling and numbness in your arms. 

Lower back pain & Sciatica

Lower back pain is one of the most common injuries that people get after a car accident. You might be feeling your lower back pain for days, weeks, months, or even years after your car accident. Your back pain can be constant and nag at you all the time. Or, it can have flare ups where you either get back pain because of a specific trigger OR get it suddenly and uncontrollably without any reason at all. Sciatica can also develop after a car accident, which is when you get nerve pain that travels from your glute down to your legs. 

Herniated discs

A herniated disc happens when the force of the car crash causes the disc that’s in between each level of your spine to rupture and potentially compress your spinal cord. As a result of your herniated disc, you could be left with lower back pain that radiates down to your legs, shoulder pain that radiates down your arms, pins and needles or numbness sensations, burning pain, new muscle weakness, or pain with daily activities like walking, standing, or sitting. 

Shoulder Injuries

Common shoulder problems that can happen after a car accident include decreased mobility in your shoulders, pain with movement, shoulder dislocations, shoulder and collarbone fractures, torn shoulder muscles, and shoulder weakness. These shoulder injuries can make it very difficult to do things like reaching overhead, holding objects, and doing everyday activities like taking a shower. 

Concussions or Mild Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)

A concussion is an injury to the brain that causes a temporary loss in your regular brain function. It can be the result of a DIRECT INJURY to your head such as getting hit in the head with an object OR it can be the result of an INDIRECT INJURY such as during whiplash where your head rapidly accelerates and decelerates in different directions. A concussion is a type of mild traumatic brain injury. Mild traumatic brain injuries happen when there’s a strong force that causes trauma to the brain. Common symptoms of both conditions include headaches, changes in vision, dizziness, nausea or vomiting, impaired balance, difficulties with concentration, and sensitivity to light.

Broken bones or Fractures

Depending on the impact of your car accident, you could suffer from one or more broken bones (called “fractures”) in your body. If you have a broken bone after a car accident, you’ll need the guidance of a doctor to help get your bones back to normal. Depending on what kind of fracture you have, your doctor will recommend surgery or non-surgical methods like bracing or physiotherapy to help heal your bone.   

Headaches

It’s not uncommon to suffer from headaches after a car accident, especially if you also have a whiplash injury at the same time. Your headache could’ve started because of the trauma of the car accident. Whiplash can also put stress on the muscles and ligaments around your neck and shoulders. This tension in your upper body can radiate up and cause headaches. 

Chest injuries

Chest injuries from a motor vehicle accident can be minor or severe. Structures in your chest that can be injured after a car accident include your ribs, lungs, heart, collarbone, breastbone, chest muscles, ligaments, and chest muscles. Not only can these injuries cause pain, but they can also result in more serious issues like problems breathing and issues with your heart. 

Leg injuries (hip, knee, ankle, foot)

A car accident can cause pain, swelling, stiffness, and weakness in and around your hips, knees, ankles, and feet. Some different leg injuries that you could be suffering from include torn ligaments, sprained muscles, joint dislocations, leg blood clots, fractures, and various cuts, scrapes, and bruises. 

Post-traumatic stress, fear of driving 

Being a part of a car accident can not only cause physical damage, but it can cause emotional damage as well. You could be suffering from overwhelming emotions like anxiety, fear, anger, and depression after this big event in your life. It’s important to seek out the help of your physician or a mental health professional to help cope with your emotions. 

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO CAUSE TREATMENT AFTER A CAR ACCIDENT?

Reduce your pain

Your pain can feel so severe that it’s hard to move around. However, studies have shown that it’s important to keep moving after a car accident to improve blood flow to your injured areas, prevent stiffness, and help you get back to your regular life. A physiotherapist is a movement specialist that’ll assess your problem areas and create a personalized treatment plan to help you reduce your pain and regain your mobility.

Speed up healing 

The most common barriers for people returning to their everyday life after a car accident include pain, stiffness, headaches, and decreased range of motion. A physiotherapist can show you different aids and devices to help improve your mobility and decrease your pain. This can include walking devices, braces, and machines that promote repair and healing in your body. 

Prevent long term damage

A car accident can trigger long term consequences like chronic pain, longstanding migraines, and difficulties with walking and other functional activities. A physiotherapist can assess you after your car accident and treat any symptoms you have. The sooner you can see a physiotherapist, the better your chances are at making a full recovery and preventing any lingering discomfort or damage.

Regain strength 

When you suffer from a major event like a car accident, you might find it difficult to resume physical activities like walking and playing sports. A physiotherapist can help you regain strength by guiding you through an exercise program that’s designed to gradually improve your strength and help you reach your fitness goals. 

Avoid the possibility of surgery 

Depending on what happened during your car accident, you might need immediate surgery to treat your injuries. In other cases, you could initially have a minor problem that escalates to a major problem that requires surgery. This situation happens when the initial injury doesn’t fully heal and worsens because of problems like decreased strength, stiffness, pain, and a lack of movement. Seeing a physiotherapist early on can help you avoid the need for these kinds of surgeries by promoting healing, strength, and recovery with non-surgical treatments. 

Move better and get back to your normal routine

After a car accident, it’s normal to feel fearful of physical activities due to the trauma you may have experienced after this event. Your physiotherapist will work with you to help gradually re-introduce you to movement without pain. They’ll take note of what your personal goals are and help you get back to work, school, and your favourite hobbies or sports as soon as possible.

HOW CAN CHIROPRACTIC TREATMENT HELP ME AFTER A CAR ACCIDENT?

Many people turn to chiropractors to help them recover after a car accident.

Chiropractors are experts in the human body and are well-equipped to fix issues with your neck, shoulders, spine, hips, knees, and other parts of your body. 

Choosing chiropractic treatment is a great course of action to help you recover from symptoms like whiplash, neck pain, back pain, and concussion or other mild traumatic brain injuries after a car accident. 

Your chiropractor will guide you through a thorough assessment to help pinpoint the root cause of your pain and create a treatment plan that’ll address your pain and lead you to recovery. 

See below for some chiropractic treatment methods your skilled chiropractor will use to help you RESTORE YOUR MOVEMENT and FEEL BETTER!

• Chiropractic adjustment or chiropractic manipulations are a type of hands-on therapy where your chiropractor will use a quick movement to help restore motion to your spine or any other joint in your body.
• Soft tissue therapy helps to decrease tension in your body, increase blood flow in targeted areas of your body, and repair damaged muscles after a major stressor like a car accident.
• Therapeutic exercise can be prescribed by your chiropractor to help stretch any stiff areas of your body, increase strength in your muscles, improve your posture, and enhance your balance and coordination if you’ve suffered from a concussion or other mild traumatic brain injury.
• Acupuncture is another treatment that’s beneficial for people who’ve suffered from a car accident. Acupuncture can help stimulate endorphins which help to relax any tension that’s built up in your body and provide you with pain relief. 
• Laser therapy is a pain-free and safe treatment that can heal neck pain that’s related to whiplash, shoulder pain, back pain and sciatica, disc injuries, and more.

HOW CAN PHYSIOTHERAPY HELP ME AFTER A CAR ACCIDENT?

If you’re suffering from the consequences after a car accident and you want to just get back to your regular life, seeing a physiotherapist could be the answer you’re looking for. 

Not only can a physiotherapist help relieve your pain right now, but they can also help prevent you from developing chronic pain and other long-term consequences after your car accident.  

See below to find out what different physiotherapy treatments are and how they can help you after your car accident.

WHEN SHOULD I START PHYSIOTHERAPY AFTER A CAR ACCIDENT?

Physiotherapy is NOT something that you want to delay after a car accident.

In fact, you want to start physiotherapy AS SOON AS POSSIBLE after your car accident to help promote healing and prevent any serious consequences to your body later on. 

A physiotherapist is equipped to solve any pain, swelling, inflammation, and stiffness after a car accident.

Both minor injuries like mild whiplash and headaches AND major injuries like broken bones or concussions should be addressed right away by a physiotherapist. 

The quicker you’re able to get an assessment from a physiotherapist for your injuries, the better your chances are at making a full recovery and preventing any harmful long-term side effects of your car accident. 

ARE DELAYED SYMPTOMS COMMON AFTER A CAR ACCIDENT?

There are a few obvious symptoms that can show up right after a car accident like broken bones, swelling, and bruising. 

Other times, symptoms can show up days, weeks, and even months after a car accident.

Delayed symptoms are unfortunately common after a car accident, especially in those who don’t seek out immediate medical attention.

It’s common for people to think they’re fine right after their car accident, but wake up the next day with extreme pain or stiffness. 

Many people have some mild symptoms after a car accident that they think will go away on its own, but these mild symptoms can actually get worse over time. 

For example, headaches, sensitivity to light or loud noises, changes in mood, increased irritability, memory problems, nausea, dizziness, and blurred vision can all be delayed symptoms of something serious like a concussion or other traumatic brain injury. 

Neck pain, neck stiffness, tingling or numbness in your arms, soreness in your shoulders, upper back, or arms, and headaches are all symptoms of whiplash, which is one the most common delayed car accident injuries. 

If left untreated, mild symptoms can have long-term or even lifelong consequences. 

All in all, don’t assume that your injuries will get better on its own. 

Seek out the help of a healthcare professional like a physiotherapist to diagnose your symptoms early so that you can have a better chance at making a fast and full recovery.

HOW DO I START PHYSIOTHERAPY TREATMENT AFTER A CAR ACCIDENT?

The sooner you start your physiotherapy treatment, the better your chances are at making a full recovery. 

Find a trusted physiotherapy clinic near you to help kickstart your healing today. 

At your first physiotherapy appointment, you can expect a knowledgeable physiotherapist to conduct a thorough assessment to find the exact cause of your pain and give you a diagnosis. 

Afterward, your physiotherapist will go over your custom treatment plan in order to address your specific issues and help you get back to where you want to be. 

For common injuries after a car accident such as whiplash, neck pain, and back pain, you can expect your treatment plan to include hands-on therapy, therapeutic ultrasound, ice and heat therapy, electrical stimulation, myofascial release, massage therapy, personalized exercises, and more. 

Your physiotherapist is also trained to treat other conditions that you might have like herniated discs, concussions, shoulder pain, chest injuries, headaches, leg injuries and more. 

At PhysioPlus Health Group, we’ve been helping people like you make a full recovery after motor vehicle accidents since 2001. 

We offer a patient-centered approach and only deliver high-quality care to help you find fast and long-lasting results. 

Our skilled team of physiotherapists, chiropractors, massage therapists, occupational therapists, osteopaths, pilates and yoga instructors, and massage therapists are here to help you have a FULL and SUCCESSFUL recovery.

It’s never too early or too late to get started on your recovery.

Call our office (tel:437-747-6236) or request an appointment NOW to be one step closer to a pain-free life!

TREATMENT FOR INJURIES AFTER A CAR ACCIDENT.

After a car accident, it’s important to get IMMEDIATE and COMPREHENSIVE treatment to heal your injuries and prevent long-term side effects. 

Starting a comprehensive treatment plan is important to protect you against lingering pain and discomfort after your car accident. This treatment plan can include physiotherapy treatment, chiropractic care, acupuncture, whiplash treatment, back pain treatment, concussion rehabilitation, occupational therapy, and rehabilitative exercise.

Physiotherapy 

The goal of physiotherapy treatment is to eliminate your pain over the short AND long term so that you can get back to your regular routine as soon as possible. Your physiotherapist will use a variety of different treatments like massage therapy, myofascial release, electrical stimulation, joint mobilization, shockwave therapy, and bracing to relieve your pain and get your body moving better.

Chiropractic care

Chiropractic care is a branch of treatment that aims to diagnose and treat conditions throughout your entire body. Chiropractors can treat pain or stiffness anywhere in your body using a variety of different techniques like spinal adjustments or manual manipulations, joint adjustments, soft tissue therapy, acupuncture, electrical stimulation, ultrasound, and laser therapy. At a chiropractic appointment, you can expect your chiropractor to diagnose your condition and build a treatment plan that’ll improve your overall health, wellness, and function. 

Acupuncture

If you’re looking for a WELL-RESEARCHED, SAFE, and DRUG-FREE way to effectively reduce your pain, decrease muscle tension and inflammation, and improve the way your body functions, then acupuncture could be the answer for you. Acupuncture works by stimulating blood flow and nutrient delivery to the injured area of your body, which speeds up your body’s natural healing cycle. Acupuncture also works to release natural pain-relieving chemicals in your body like endorphins, which result in you feeling less pain. 

Whiplash treatment

Whiplash is a neck injury that happens when your head suddenly goes through a rapid back-and-forth movement. People suffering from this injury after a car accident can have uncomfortable symptoms like neck stiffness or pain, headaches, pain or tenderness in the shoulders and upper back, and tingling and numbness that goes down the arms. 

Whiplash treatment involves HEALING and STRENGTHENING your neck and areas around it with techniques like heat and cold therapy, therapeutic exercise and stretches, massage therapy, and manual therapy and adjustments. 

See below for an at-home exercise that can help you decrease pain and stiffness if you’ve been suffering from whiplash.

Back pain rehabilitation

Back pain is common after a traumatic event like a car accident. The high-impact forces of a car accident can cause injuries that can cause back pain like whiplash, back strains and sprains, spinal fractures, spinal disc injuries, and degenerative spinal disorders. Your doctor, chiropractor, or physiotherapist will assess your back, diagnose your condition, and guide you through the best treatment plan to heal your back and get you feeling better. 

Concussion rehabilitation

A concussion or other mild traumatic brain injury happens when there’s trauma to your brain that causes a change in function. If you’re suffering from symptoms like headaches, confusion, dizziness, nausea or vomiting, changes in vision, impaired balance, difficulties with concentration, and sensitivity to light, you could benefit from concussion rehabilitation. Concussion rehabilitation aims to restore your body and brain after a concussion. It’ll involve manual therapy, exercise therapy, vestibular and visual rehabilitation, and lots of education to guide you to a gradual return to your normal routine. 

Occupational therapy

Occupational therapy aims to help people with physical, developmental, emotional, and environmental barriers that limit their ability to work, go to school, or participate in the activities that they love to do. This is a holistic type of care that helps get you back to your day-to-day activities with different adaptations and recommendations. An occupational therapist can offer necessary equipment or assistive devices to make your everyday tasks easier, monitor your cognitive function over time, and guide you through a gradual return to your regular life after a car accident. 

Exercise Therapy 

It’s important to see a physiotherapist as soon as possible after your car accident to start a therapeutic exercise program to help the injured parts of your body heal. These exercises can release tension, increase your range of motion, improve your strength, reduce your pain, optimize your posture, and refine your balance and coordination. 

Rehab Pilates

Rehab Pilates is a well-known type of exercise…but did you know that it can help you heal after a car accident? Participating in a pilates program can help with your post-injury recovery, improve your strength and stability, increase your range of motion and flexibility, and reduce your risk of reinjury. Pilates also has other benefits like increasing blood flow, decreasing stress, and improving your sleep. 

WHAT IS WHIPLASH?

You’ve probably heard the term “whiplash” when people describe an injury after a car accident.

But what does this word really mean?

Whiplash is an injury to the neck and surrounding areas that’s caused by your head rapidly accelerating and decelerating.

A whiplash injury is common after a car accident, especially a rear-end accident, because the traumatic forces can cause your head to move quickly resulting in damage to your neck. 

If you currently have one or more of the following symptoms, you could be suffering from whiplash:

The best thing you can do if you’re suffering from whiplash is to see a healthcare professional like a physiotherapist.

They’ll thoroughly assess you for whiplash and give you a treatment plan to decrease your symptoms and heal your whiplash injury. 

HOW DO YOU TREAT WHIPLASH?

The best thing you can do if you’re suffering from whiplash is to see a healthcare professional like a physiotherapist.

They’ll thoroughly assess you for whiplash and give you a treatment plan to decrease your symptoms and heal your whiplash injury. 

HOW DO I KNOW IF I HAVE WHIPLASH OR A CONCUSSION?

Whiplash and concussions are both COMMON but DIFFERENT injuries that people develop after a car accident.

Although they have similar symptoms, they’re two different conditions and are treated in two distinct ways. 

Whiplash is an injury where your head moves quickly and suddenly, resulting in damage to your neck and surrounding areas. Your symptoms might appear immediately or up to a few days after the initial injury. With whiplash, common symptoms include neck or shoulder pain, headaches, and neck or upper body stiffness. 

A concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury that happens when there’s trauma to your brain that results in a change in your function. This damage to your brain can cause headaches, dizziness, nausea or vomiting, impaired balance, troubles with memory or concentration, and light sensitivity. 

It’s possible for some people to have whiplash AND a concussion at the same time. The causes of developing whiplash and concussions are similar, and it might be hard for you to know which one you have. 

If you suspect that you have whiplash, a concussion, or both, it’s a good idea to see a healthcare professional like a doctor or physiotherapist.

Your healthcare professional will be able to give you a proper diagnosis and effectively treat your condition, no matter if you have whiplash or a concussion. 

CAN A CAR ACCIDENT CAUSE SCIATICA?

Being in a car accident can cause a lot of negative side effects in your body. 

You could have sciatica if you’ve been experiencing new pain, numbness, or other sensory changes that start from your hip and radiate down your leg after being in a car accident.

Sciatica usually only affects one side of your body and can result in mild to severe impairment in your everyday life. 

This condition happens when your sciatic nerve is compressed or pinched.

The most common cause of a compressed sciatic nerve if you’ve been involved in a car accident is a herniated disc in your spine. 

Your doctor may confirm your sciatica with tests like an x-ray, CT scan, or MRI.

Fortunately, sciatica IS curable with the right treatment. 

Physiotherapy and chiropractic care are the two main treatments that people turn to when they have sciatica. These are both NON-INVASIVE, SAFE, and EFFECTIVE treatment methods that people use to completely cure their sciatica.

In physiotherapy or chiropractic care, your clinician will take a detailed history about your sciatica. They’ll ask you questions about when it started, what kind of symptoms you have, and what activities make it feel better or worse.

Based on this assessment, your chiropractor or physiotherapist will create an individualized treatment plan that’ll help heal your sciatica and get you symptom-free as soon as possible. 

See below for an example of an exercise that your chiropractor or physiotherapist will guide you through to help relieve your sciatica!

DELAYED LOWER BACK PAIN AFTER A CAR ACCIDENT.

Some people develop lower back pain immediately after a car accident.

Delayed lower back pain is also very common. 

There are times where people don’t feel their back pain or injuries right away due to the adrenaline they experience from the accident.

This is why it’s so important for you to get assessed by a medical professional RIGHT AWAY, even if you don’t feel any immediate side effects. 

The back pain that you feel after a car accident can be because of injuries like muscle damage, whiplash, slipped or herniated discs, degenerative spine problems, or spinal injuries in some severe cases. 

These injuries can cause problems that limit your everyday activities and ability to go to work.

With lower back pain, you can experience stiffness in your back, tingling and numbness in your legs, and lower back tension or tenderness. 

Talk to your doctor if you’ve been involved in a recent or previous car accident. They’ll be able to assess what condition you have and refer you to the right specialist like a physiotherapist or chiropractor to treat your back injuries.

HOW QUICKLY CAN I GET BETTER AFTER A CAR ACCIDENT?

Under the right guidance, it’s possible for you to optimize your recovery and get back to your regular activities after a car accident.

It’s important to see a physiotherapist right away after a car accident so you can get the proper treatment you need to fully heal from your injuries. 

After a car accident, it’s common to get neck injuries like whiplash, upper or lower back pain, arm or leg pain, joint stiffness and muscle tension, and concussions. 

These injuries happen due to the high-impact forces of a car accident. 

You can start experiencing discomfort right away, or you can get delayed symptoms where you start to feel your injuries in a few days or weeks. 

No matter what types of symptoms you have and how long ago your car accident was, a physiotherapist can help you quickly get better after your car accident.

Physiotherapists or chiropractors can perform a thorough assessment to diagnose the exact injuries you have.

After this assessment, they’ll create a treatment plan that’ll guide you to regaining the body and level of functioning you had before the car accident.

At PhysioPlus Health Group, we’re committed to providing you with the highest quality of care to help you reach a QUICK and FULL RECOVERY. 

We have a comprehensive team of physiotherapists, chiropractors, doctors, massage therapists, occupational therapists, osteopaths, pilates instructors, and yoga instructors to holistically treat your injuries and help you restore your quality of life. 

DO I NEED TO HAVE A DOCTOR’S REFERRAL TO START MY TREATMENT?

You don’t need a doctor’s referral to start your treatment.  If you have an insurance benefits plan that will be covering part or all of the cost of treatment it’s a good idea to check with them to see if they require a doctor’s referral in order for you to get reimbursed.

If you’ve opened a claim with your car insurance company you can talk to the adjuster that has been assigned to your claim to get more information. If you need help with this give us a call and we can contact your insurance company on your behalf and sort this out for you.

DO I HAVE TO CONTACT MY INSURANCE PROVIDER BFORE STARTING THERAPY?

This will depend on whether or not you have opened a claim with your car insurance company. 

If you’re planning to pay for treatment using your extended health insurance benefits plan, then you don’t need to contact your insurance provider before starting treatment but you should contact them to ask if you need a doctor’s referral in order to get reimbursed for the cost of the treatment.

If you’ve opened a claim with your car insurance provider, you’ll be assigned an adjuster who will oversee your claim. If you provide us with their contact information we can reach out to them to let them know you’re starting treatment. 

This can be tricky to navigate so if you have any questions please contact us and we can help you!