According to data gathered by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were more than 6.4 million traffic accidents reported to police in 2017. This agency also reports that these accidents led to more than 2.7 million people being injured. There are many types of injuries that can result from a car accident, and whiplash is one of the most common. Whiplash is a serious neck injury, but there are several physical therapy methods that can help treat whiplash.
1. Manual therapy
One physical therapy technique regularly used for whiplash treatment is manual therapy. Manual therapy gets its name from the hands-on nature of the movements therapists use when doing it. This type of therapy is actually used to describe several types of therapy.
For example, soft tissue mobilization can be used to reduce tension in injured muscles, and this method is very helpful for treating whiplash symptoms. Another manual therapy method is strain-counterstrain. This method is used to help retrain the brain after an injury. Whiplash can cause muscle pain that can make people hold their neck as still as possible. Over time, this can become a habit that your brain keeps up after your injury has healed. Using strain-counterstrain movements, therapists can help retrain the brain to allow the neck muscles to move normally.
2. Aquatic therapy
Also known as water therapy, aquatic therapy is a useful tool when you need physical therapy for whiplash. This treatment is typically performed in a heated pool. The water in the pool automatically reduces the force of gravity pushing down on your neck, and this can make it easier to perform therapy movements. Also, water pushes in on the body when you’re in it, and this compression can help increase blood flow to the injured structure in the neck. This same pressure also helps you remain stable while doing therapy exercises, which can help reduce the risk of injuring yourself further.
3. Spine care and stabilization
Spine care and stabilization is another physical therapy method that can help treat whiplash. One area this method focuses on is improving the range of motion of your neck, and the therapist can use many different exercises and movements to help. Also, the method is designed to help reduce the pain of your injury and decrease your recovery time. Even better, your therapist can help you learn spine care and stabilization techniques that may reduce your risk of future neck and back injuries.
Physical therapy for whiplash can be found at Border Therapy Services
With locations in El Paso and Horizon City, Texas, and Las Cruces, New Mexico, Border Therapy Services has helped many people recover from car accident injuries. We’ve been so successful with these and other injuries because we find the root cause of your injury as well as treat your symptoms. To gather these pieces of information, our team will do a free screening. Then, we’ll create a personalized treatment plan that fits your needs.
Are you ready to get our help treating your whiplash? Contact our team today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment.