Post-Accident Recovery: The Role of Physical Therapy
An accident, such as a motor vehicle collision or a fall, often results in soft tissue injuries and bone fractures. It can also cause more serious injuries to the brain or spinal cord. If you have an injury from an accident, physical therapy Wichita KS may be an option for treatment.
Post-Accident PT Techniques
You may think of therapy primarily in terms of exercises that you do to regain strength and flexibility. This is a part of what physical therapy does. Often, the therapist works with you in the clinic to guide you. When you learn how to do the exercises correctly, your therapist may instruct you to do them at home so you can continue your progress.
If you’re wondering, “Is there anything more to physical therapy near me?” the answer is yes. Physical therapy also includes pain relief modalities. Heating and icing the injury are among the simplest modalities. Your therapist can teach you how to use ice and heat effectively. Generally speaking, you usually ice an acute injury and use heat for chronic pain.
Another pain relief modality is massage, which helps relieve muscle tension and stimulate blood flow. Your therapist may know how to perform several massage techniques and assess which would be most helpful for you.
Ultrasound therapy uses pulsed sound waves above the range that humans can hear. It increases blood flow to the injured area by causing micro-vibrations in the tissue. This helps to promote healing. There are many other pain relief modalities available from a physical therapist.
Getting Back on Track: Strategies for Swift Recovery and Progress
When you first visit a physical therapist, you will discuss what you want to get out of therapy and set goals. Pain relief is often a top physical priority after an accident.
Once your pain is better, you can start working on functional rehabilitation. In other words, your therapist can help you return to the activities that you normally did before the accident. Physical therapy goals may also include the following:
- Better balance and coordination
- Improved strength and condition
- Restored mobility and flexibility
Your therapist will then work with you to develop detailed strategies to help you reach those goals.
Benefits of Physical Therapy
At this point, you may be wondering, “What else can a physical therapist near me do?” In the short term, physical therapy can help improve your quality of life by reducing your pain. You may not be able to do everything you want to do immediately, but you can get more enjoyment out of the things you can do when you have less pain. Physical therapy after an accident may also decrease your recovery time so that you get back to doing all the things you love more quickly.
If you have to have surgery after an accident, physical therapy is an important part of your recovery. However, in some cases, physical therapy can improve your condition to the point that you don’t need surgery at all. Whether physical therapy is your primary treatment or part of a postoperative recovery plan, it can help prevent chronic complications from your accident injuries.
The sooner you start physical therapy after an accident, the better the outcome is likely to be.
