Health Is Everything: A Medical Blog

How Physical Therapists Help With Broken Necks After Car Crashes

Car accidents can trigger many types of health problems, including a broken neck. When a person breaks their neck, they must take careful steps to get it back to proper health to avoid any adverse reactions. Thankfully, physical therapy is available for those who are suffering from this problem. It can provide the help a person needs to prevent issues with their neck. 

Broken Necks Are Dangerous

A broken neck is not an uncommon result of a traffic accident and is very dangerous. It is not the same thing as a broken spinal cord, as it focuses on different parts of the body. Therefore, a broken neck doesn't usually cause paralysis. However, it can cause intense pain and, if left to worsen, could lead to a degradation of the neck and spinal cord and a potential risk for paralysis. 

As a result, it is crucial for those who experience this problem to get treatment right away to ensure that they don't get any worsened health issues. Typically, a person with a broken neck needs immediate medical and emergency care to stabilize the neck and keep it from getting damaged. Then, they may need to go through physical therapy to get the help that they need to avoid complications.

Ways Physical Therapy Can Help

Physical therapy is a care option that can provide many benefits for those with a broken neck. First of all, it will provide pain relief after an accident by minimizing a person's suffering. It achieves this goal by stabilizing the muscles and nerves in the neck, making sure that they are strong and secure. Then, it helps a person maintain the proper flexibility that they need in their neck.

This flexibility is critical because a broken neck is going to take weeks or even months to fully heal. After it is ready, it will be stiff, and many of the muscles will be tight as a result. Physical therapy can help by gradually increasing the flexibility in a person's neck, making it easier to avoid the kind of pain that may result if an individual tries to get back to a healthy life without proper therapy. 

And many of these therapy methods can be taken home and used to get relief. For example, many types of neck stretches are available that restore a person's broken neck to better health. By focusing on these factors, it is possible for a person to get the strong neck that they need without having to experience any adverse side effects at the same time.