Car Accidents and Whiplash

Car Accidents and Whiplash

Physical Therapy may be the best option

Each year, 2 million people suffer from whiplash related to car accidents in the United States alone.
This has been quite the winter with a lot of snow on Boise and Meridian roads.

Studies using high-speed cameras and
sophisticated crash dummies have revealed that rear impact car accidents result in a condition called ‘whiplash’.
A sudden, abnormal motion to a sensitive region like the neck causes damage to the soft tissues (ligaments and muscles) of the cervical spine. This leads to inflammation and pain.

Physical Therapy Helps Recovery

Recent studies have shown that physical therapy may be the best choice to decrease pain, improve mobility, and minimize lost productivity as a direct result of whiplash-associated disorders.

In a study in the Journal of Rheumatology (2007), a systematic review was performed of the existing literature on neck pain related to car accidents. The evidence strongly supported the use of stretching/strengthening exercises and mobilizations. Also, treatment with physical therapy was less expensive in the long run and reduced long-term disability compared to other treatment options.

An article in the Emergency Medical Journal (2006) compared two groups of individuals recovering from car accidents. The first groupreceived mobilization and exercise therapy (components of physical therapy) and the second group was treated with medication and a cervical collar. The group that received physical therapy had significantly less headaches and other symptoms related to whiplash compared to the second group.

If you or someone you know has been injured in a car accident, the best thing you can do is to have them call our office today. The longer you wait to seek the expertise of one of our licensed physical therapists, the more prolonged the recovery process will be. Don’t wait, pick up the phone and schedule an appointment right away.

For more information, contact us today.