4 Reasons to Do Physical Therapy After a Car Accident

Car accidents often cause considerable damage to the body and mind. Some injuries are less severe in nature and, if treated properly, may completely heal. Unfortunately, serious injuries can last for years and significantly interfere with your social, professional, and daily life.

Because of the stress that physical injuries put on your body, healing and managing symptoms can be challenging. Fortunately, a combination of physical and mental therapy can be effective in treating your injuries. Therapy is a powerful tool for individuals that have sustained injuries in a car accident to help them be better in tune with their bodies and improve overall wellbeing. The benefits of physical therapy far outweigh any potential doubts you may have—here are four reasons why you should do physical therapy after a car accident.

Physical Therapy Helps Speed Up Injury Healing

Depending on the circumstances of your accident, you may have needed immediate surgery, or perhaps you’ve been lying down and resting, waiting to get back on your feet. Whichever the case, the pain and discomfort of your injuries may be becoming more unbearable. You’re likely feeling tired, sore, stiff, and have noticeable deficiencies in bodily movement, increasing the risk of developing mental trauma such as depression, frustration, and stress.

As such, it’s imperative that accident victims undergo physical therapy to encourage the recovery process. Physical therapy implements a variety of healing techniques to alleviate pain, rebuild strength, and increase range of motion. On top of light physical activity, a physical therapist may treat your injuries with hands-on therapeutic methods such as hot and cold packs, deep massages, and electrical stimulation machines. Together, these treatments can be particularly helpful in reducing pain and addressing the root cause of your symptoms.

Physical Therapy Can Prevent Pain from Returning

All personal injuries are different. Some take longer to heal than others, and injuries suffered in car accidents often come with long-term consequences. By taking immediate action and starting physical therapy early after a crash, you can reduce your risk of pain returning and affecting your future.

Physical therapy is most effective when done regularly in a way that gradually gets the body back to optimal function. More strength, flexibility, and mobility can lower your vulnerability to chronic pain and potentially prevent the development of conditions like arthritis and degenerative disc disease. 

Physical Activity Can Reduce the Severity of Pain

A moderately active lifestyle that gets blood flow moving and focuses on muscle strengthening can aid the damaging effects of immobility. Light movement aimed at healing the injured areas and structures around it can be instrumental in reversing severe pain and helping those with chronic pain perform daily living activities with greater independence.

When you’re active, blood flows continuously in the body and supplies nutrients to damaged areas. Because physical therapy works to repair and heal injuries faster, accident victims may be able to avoid surgical procedures that are risky and costly. Plus, surgery comes with extended recovery times, more time missed from work, and the risk of complications.

Physical Therapy Shows Your Commitment to Recovery

Physical therapy takes time. You can expect to work with a physical therapist a few times a week. While physical therapy is demanding, it shows that you’re making an effort to get back on your feet.

This is valuable to your personal injury case, as your physical therapy will be able to provide a judge or insurance company with detailed documentation of limitations they observe and an estimated timeline for your recovery. Evidence like this can be used to calculate your losses and ensure you’re fairly compensated.

Get Professional Legal Help After a Car Accident in Pennsylvania

The recovery process after an accident won’t be easy, especially when you can’t give it your full effort while dealing with other legal matters. Partnering with a car crash lawyer who knows effective strategies to get you maximum compensation will ease your worries. The accident attorneys at Rubin, Glickman, Steinberg & Gifford have over 65 years of experience helping the Pennsylvania community recover holistically.

At Rubin, Glickman, Steinberg & Gifford, our priority is you. We’ll effectively represent you in all aspects of your car accident and injury case while treating you with the dignity and respect you deserve. We listen to you so we can relate the pain and suffering you’ve endured in the claims or court process. Knowing that we’ve got you covered means you can worry less, focus on healing faster, and take back the life you were meant to live. To meet our trusted accident attorneys over a free consultation, complete a confidential online contact form or call (215) 822-7575.