How Do Physical Therapists Help Car Accident Victims Recover?

Most Pittsburgh car accident victims work with a physical therapist as part of their rehabilitation process. Physical therapists help drivers, passengers, pedestrians, and bicycle riders who have any type of serious injury regain mobility, strength, balance, and flexibility after an accident and surgery.

The time you spend with a physical therapist is often a significant part of your claim for compensation. It’s fairly common for an accident victim with spinal cord damage, the loss of an arm or leg, a fracture, back pain, or any type of pain to have multiple sessions with their physical therapist. Some victims, such as those with chronic pain, may require lifelong physical therapy.

What is a physical therapist?

A physical therapist is a type of rehabilitative therapist. Other therapists include occupational therapists (who help with daily living tasks), vocational therapists (who help car accident victims perform their job tasks), speech therapists (who help with communication), and prosthetic therapists who help people who need to wear prosthetic devices.

Many car accident victims begin their medical care in an emergency room and may need surgeries at a hospital or an ambulatory surgery center. After surgery or ER care, it’s quite common for your family doctor or a specialist to recommend victims meet with a physical therapist (PT). The PT may be on staff at a hospital, work at the medical practitioner’s office, or at a separate rehabilitation facility.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, physical therapists are not medical doctors. They’re not permitted to diagnose health conditions, perform surgeries, or prescribe medications. While many car accident victims visit a physical therapist based on the recommendation of a physician, you can see a physical therapist without a referral.

Physical therapists are required to earn a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree which takes about three years. DPTs must have an undergraduate degree. In America, a DPT must pass the National Physical Therapy Examination in order to practice.

What types of injuries do physical therapists treat?

Physical therapists treat injuries from car, truck, and motorcycle accidents. They also treat victims of slip and fall accidents, construction accidents, nursing home abuse and neglect, and other accidents. PTs commonly help accident victims who have:

• Spinal cord injuries
• Traumatic amputation/ limb loss
• Traumatic brain injuries and concussions
• Burn injuries
• Back, shoulder, and neck pain
• Knee, ankle, elbow, and wrist pain
• Hip and pelvic pain
• Broken bones
• Chronic pain
• Nerve damage
• Muscle, tissue, tendon, or ligament damage
• Whiplash
• Torn rotator cuffs

What treatments do physical therapists provide for car accident victims?

Your PT will develop a plan to meet your particular injuries and your physical health goals. Your PT will monitor your progress and make adjustments as needed.

The treatments for car accident injuries include:

• An exercise routine: Your PT will explain and show you specific exercises that can help you regain bodily function, improve your strength, increase your flexibility, help with your mobility, maintain balance and coordination, and extend your endurance. Common exercises include strength training with weights, using exercise equipment (such as exercise bicycles and treadmills), stretching exercises, and other exercises. The exercises often aim to improve the muscles, joints, and body parts near the part of the body that is injured
• Manual therapy: Your PT will provide hands-on techniques such as massages to help manipulate soft tissues, improve joint mobility, and provide pain comfort and relief.
• Heat and cold therapy: Heat and cold treatments can help reduce inflammation, muscle spasms, and provide pain relief. Your PT will know when to use heat treatments such as hot packs and when to use cold packs, ice massages, and hot and cold baths.
• Electrotherapy: This PT technique involves using electrical muscle stimulation and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) to deliver low-voltage electrical currents to the site of your injuries.
• Hydrotherapy: Water is a good shock absorber. The buoyancy of the water can reduce the strain on your muscles and joints. Hydrotherapy (also called water therapy, aquatic therapy, and pool therapy) includes home baths, pressurized water jets, and swimming pools.
• Balance and coordination training: Your PT will help you be aware of the position of your body, help improve your stability, and reduce your risk of falling.
• Blood flow restriction therapy (BPR): Your physical therapist may apply “a specialized cuff or band around a limb to partially restrict blood and oxygen flow while performing exercises or activities.
• Ultrasound therapy: This type of therapy uses high-frequency sound waves to apply heat deep within your tissues. It can help with blood flow, pain reduction, muscle spasms, and tissue healing.

Most car accident victims obtain physical therapy at an outpatient facility, also known as orthopedic therapy.

What are the benefits of physical therapy for car accident victims?

Physical therapy helps provide pain relief, enhance mobility, improve strength, and increase stability.  PT helps patients recover from surgeries quicker and helps reduce the risk of future complications. Physical therapy also improves your quality of life.

Physical therapy and your car accident damage claim

Every car accident victim has the right to maximize their health. Our Pittsburgh car accident lawyers demand that the driver’s insurance company pay for all your medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, and the damage to your car. Your medical bills include all your physical therapy visits. In addition, the number of times you need physical therapy and the length of your sessions is a strong indicator of your pain and suffering.

You have the right to feel as good as you did before your car accident. Physical therapy is a common helpful healthcare treatment. To schedule a free consultation with an experienced personal injury lawyer who will help you identify and document the healthcare you need, please call Carmody and Ging, Injury & Accident Lawyers, or submit our contact form to schedule a free consultation.