Car accidents can do a number on your body. Even in minor accidents, your body absorbs the impact, which can result in headaches, neck pain, shoulder pain, tingling in the extremities, and other symptoms. Whether you are experiencing symptoms after a minor accident or you sustained more serious injuries that required medical intervention, physical therapy in Wichita, KS can play an important role in your recovery.
Supporting Your Recovery With Physical Therapy
When you seek physical therapy near me for injuries you received from an accident, the first thing the physical therapist will do is assess your situation. He or she will conduct an exam to find out the extent of the injury and then recommend a treatment plan. Depending on your specific results, your recovery may consist of various phases.
Symptom Relief
Many people who begin physical therapy after an accident still have pain or other symptoms. The first goal of your physical therapist is to reduce these symptoms as quickly as possible. You can also check out Ortho Bracing for more information on how to reduce pain and other symptoms. Some of the methods used may include:
• Hot and cold therapy
• Manual therapy
• Trigger point therapy
• Dry needling
• Cupping
• Micro point stimulation
Symptom relief may take a series of sessions. Once you begin to feel better, your physical therapist will begin to help improve your function.
Improved Strength and Coordination
When you are symptom-free, you can work on regaining strength, balance, and coordination of the injured area. Your PT will design an exercise and rehabilitation plan based on your overall condition, health, and fitness level.
You might work with bands, exercise balls, weights, or your own body weight. Your physical therapist will demonstrate moves and guide you through each of them. During each of the moves, your PT will make sure you are performing them correctly so that you do not aggravate the injury or cause new ones.
The stronger you get, the more exercises you will learn. Your physical therapist may also send exercises home with you so that you can do them on your own on a daily basis.
Injury Prevention
Once you regain normal function, your physical therapist may work with you so you do not reinjure the area.
Even when you feel like things are back to normal, the injured area may still be weak and prone to further injury. You may receive recommendations for things you can do to protect or further strengthen the area so that you remain healthy.
Getting Your Life on Track ASAP
When you find a physical therapist near me who works with accident injuries, you benefit in a number of ways. Without the proper care and rehab, there is a chance that your injury will never fully heal, which can result in chronic pain. Physical therapy not only helps you become symptom-free faster than without treatment, but you actually heal the injury. This lowers the chance of re-injury and prevents chronic issues.
The quicker you seek a physical therapist after an accident, the better your results will be. This allows you to return to work and life as soon as possible.