Physical Therapy After an Accident: Here's What to Expect

If you have been in an accident, you require treatment to deal with your injuries. After the initial emergency treatment, you may need physical therapy. The therapy will help you regain flexibility, strength, and motion range. Physical therapy allows people to feel normal after an accident. Read on to find out what to expect from physical therapy after an accident. 

Reasons to Seek Physical Therapy

Physical therapy helps support one's recovery after an accident. It can also help prevent long-term damage from injuries. Physical activity can help reduce pain. In many cases, patients who get physical therapy can avoid surgery soon after or in the future. 

It helps strengthen the muscles, tendons, and ligaments that support different body structures. The therapy is also effective for dealing with old injuries, and it can help restore lost function.

Assessing the Injury

When you visit a therapist after your accident, you can expect a thorough assessment of your condition. The therapist will need to assess the extent of the injury. You can expect to answer detailed questions about how the injury occurred and how severe the pain is. 

Assessment will also include determining the range of movement or what you can and cannot do. The therapist will develop an effective treatment plan after the assessment. 

Benefits of Physical Therapy

Getting physical therapy after an accident is very beneficial. The therapy can promote better and faster recovery. People who get physical therapy report getting back to optimum health faster after an accident. 

Physical therapy helps with pain relief, ensures less discomfort, and reduces the chances of re-injury. Physical therapy is often customized to meet the patient’s needs. If you have been in an accident, you can seek financial compensation for the cost of physical therapy. 

Effective Treatment Plan

The physical therapist will develop a treatment plan based on the patient’s condition. The plan will depend on the severity and location of the injury. Manual therapy is the basis of physical therapy, and it includes stretching, massage, and exercises that help restore tissue function. 

However, the treatment plan may also include other techniques like laser therapy, ice/heat therapy, and electric stimulation. A therapist may prescribe at-home exercises for you to do between therapy sessions. The therapy needs to be consistent to achieve the desired results. 

Timeline for Physical Therapy

How long you will need to get physical therapy will depend on different factors. The factors include the severity of the injuries and the consistency of the sessions. As a patient, your attitude will determine how soon you get back to your life. 

You need to follow the therapist's instructions. The instructions include performing exercises at home as prescribed. The timeline for the therapy can range from several weeks to several months. Good communication between the patient and the therapist will affect the overall outcome.  

Physical therapy is safe and non-invasive. If you have been in an accident or are experiencing pain from an old injury, visit a physical therapist. This will get you on the road to complete recovery. 

For more on physical therapy after an accident, visit Brookdale Health, Experts in Auto Injuries at our office in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota. You can call (763) 561-4045 today to schedule an appointment.