3 Common Motor Vehicle Accidents Injuries and how physiotherapy can help

According to AIHW (March, 2021), every year, thousands of Australians are hurt or die in accidental road and other transport crashes, mainly whilst in a car or riding a motorcycle or bicycle. In 2017-18, transport crashes resulted in 62,387 hospitalisation cases, or 252 per 100,000 population. The head and neck were the body parts frequently in motor vehicle accidents.

These are the most common motor vehicle accident injuries we keep encountering at UniquePhysio and how our physiotherapists are able to help you recover from them.

1. Whiplash

Whiplash associated disorders are commonly the result of motor vehicle accidents when the head is suddenly jerked back and forth beyond its normal limits. This can lead to significant pain and disability. Natural healing is critical to minimise the potential overuse of painkillers.

Some of the common symptoms of an individual suffering from whiplash include neck pain, dizziness, sore shoulder, temporarily reduced movement, numbness, etc. It is crucial you seek physio advice as quickly as possible as the injury is far more treatable if it is managed from its early stages rather than at a later time.

At UniquePhysio we will help you regain movement in your neck with gentle exercises, manual therapy and other treatments to help restore the body’s maximum range of movements after your injury.

2. Headaches

Headaches are very common after a motor vehicle accident. It can be a sign of an injury in your joints, muscles, nerves, ligaments and/or tendons. Some of the symptoms of headache pain after an accident may be tightness or pressure across your forehead, aching sensation in the head, tenderness of the scalp neck or shoulders and pressure on the sides or back of the head.

At Unique Physio, we understand how inconvenient and disruptive a severe headache can be. Every individual is unique, but headache treatment may include rehab exercises, traction, myofascial release or even dry needling. We don’t just merely help to relieve your headaches; we will also give you at-home strategies to minimise the reoccurrence of your headaches.

3. Back pain: herniated disk

During a car accident, the body absorbs a large amount of force and impact. The discs in the spine cushion the vertebrae and act as shock absorbers. A herniated disc occurs when the supportive discs in the spine slip out of the place, crack or even rupture.

Symptoms will depend on where the herniation occurs. For instance, a herniated disk causes significant pain if it compresses a nerve in the lumbar or cervical spine. Some of the symptoms can include sharp burning pain, tingling or numbness in the legs or arms and muscle weakness near the affected nerves.

Physiotherapy treatment is guided by the evidence-based clinical statement for the management of back pain and may comprise activity modification advice, spinal mobilisation, exercise program, manual therapy, or hot/cold therapies.

How can physiotherapy help?

Depending on the severity of the injury, symptoms may take some time to appear or they may be present right away. In any case, due to the musculoskeletal nature of the above injuries, Physiotherapy can certainly help with your recovery.

Our Unique Physio team, trained with the evidence-based guidelines from SIRA, will assess your condition and then deliver your unique treatment program. Our physiotherapists are experts treating motor vehicle accidents and offer a wide range of techniques including manual therapy, traction, electrical stimulation, exercises and dry needling.

We will help you get moving early, and provide advice on return to suitable activities, aiming to accelerate your recovery and healing. We will collaborate with all stakeholders involved to deliver you the best care and treatment possible.

We understand and appreciate your individuality and take a holistic approach to health and wellbeing. How we work:

1. Listen & Diagnose: First we’ll listen carefully about your discomfort and thoroughly assess your physical condition. Then we’ll explain our diagnosis and provide recommendations in a language you’ll understand.
2. Care & Treatment: Our professional team will provide your own unique combination of evidence-based treatments, professional advice and at-home strategies. By helping you to understand your unique situation, you’re empowered to know how best to manage your symptoms, relieve your pain, and achieve your goals!
3. Support Your Goals:  What would you do if you were as fit and healthy as you desire? Yes, you want to get out of pain, but perhaps that’s so you can pick up your grandchild. Perhaps you want run a marathon! We’ll partner with you, support your goals with our world-class expertise in human movement, and get you back to the activities you love!