Side impact car accidents, also known as T-bone car accidents, are some of the most common causes of car accident injury in the United States. In the year 2016 alone, over 3 million people in the United States were injured in a car accident. While some people can walk away from a T-bone car accident with only a scratch, many of the injuries sustained in car accidents can result in long-lasting pain and other symptoms. Oftentimes these injuries take a very long time to heal, and may require physical therapy to treat.
What are some common T-bone car accident injuries?
A T-bone car accident can result in a number of injuries, from mild to severe. Here are four injuries that you could sustain in a T-bone car accident:
- Whiplash — Whiplash is an injury of the neck caused by forceful, back-and-forth movement. This causes strain on the muscles, nerves and tendons of the neck. Whiplash can often result in neck, shoulder and lower back pain, as well as cognitive symptoms such as blurred vision.
- Concussion — Concussion can occur when the sudden impact in a car crash causes the brain to shift and slam against the inside of the skull. This can result in feeling stunned or dazed, loss of memory, vertigo, confusion, and loss of motor coordination.
- Spinal injuries — Injuries to the spine can include fractured vertebrae and dislocated vertebrae. These injuries can not only cause severe pain and discomfort, but can also pose a risk of damage to the spinal cord, resulting in permanent disability.
- Sprains — Soft tissue sprains happen when the impact from a car accident causes the ligaments in the body to stretch too much and too quickly. Sprains result in pain and bruising, a loss of mobility, and swelling and inflammation.
Can a physical therapist help with my car accident injury?
Your car accident injury may have left you with long-lasting effects, months or even years after the accident occured. If so, you should consider seeking help from a licensed physical therapist. At Specialists in Sports and Orthopedic Rehabilitation, we can help you manage the pain, loss of mobility and other symptoms brought on by your car accident injury.
Get started with:
- A free screening — The first step in your treatment is to come in for a free screening to help determine the underlying cause of your symptoms.
- A custom treatment plan — A trained physical therapist will work with you to determine your individual needs and will create a custom plan best suited to help you manage your symptoms.
- Annual checkups — We will evaluate your joint mobility, spine mobility, flexibility, and strength, and perform an overall movement assessment to determine your physical therapy needs going forward.
Get in contact with Specialists in Sports and Orthopedic Rehabilitation today for more information, or to schedule your appointment.