Help! What Do I Do After a Motor Vehicle Accident?
“Motor vehicle accidents can be a stressful time, but rest assured, we are here to help.”
Motor vehicle accidents (MVA) can happen at any time, but with winter driving conditions comes an increase in accidents and related injuries. Motor vehicle accidents can cause unique injuries as everyone experiences different symptoms. If you have a car of 4 individuals and they get in the same accident, they all often walk away with different symptoms. Getting into an accident can be a stressful time, but here are the steps you should take if you are involved in a MVA:
1) Make sure everyone in the vehicle is okay, and not panicking or injured.
2) Exchange insurance information with the other party involved in the accident and contact the authorities if indicated.
3) If you experience symptoms due to the accident, make sure to call your motor vehicle insurance provider and complete the AB1 form (available here).
4) Book in an appointment for physiotherapy within 10 days of your accident. The AB1 form is also available at our clinic, and you can fill this out when you come for your appointment if you have not yet. You can see a physiotherapist directly, without physician referral, but it is still a good idea to touch base with your GP.
Common symptoms after a motor vehicle accident can include pain and stiffness in the neck/back, shoulder, hips, headaches, dizziness, trouble focusing, and fear of driving. That is why it is important to see medical professionals in order to work through and resolve these issues. Research indicates that 40-60% of individuals can continue to have MVA symptoms for more than 6 months, so it is important to get help sooner than later. Healthy movement and exercise can prevent this injury from becoming chronic, and get you back to doing what you love – pain free!
Depending on the severity of the accident, injuries can include broken bones, strains and sprains, concussion, or shoulder injuries, just to name a few. Commonly, whiplash associated disorder (WAD) occurs with motor vehicle accidents. WAD is caused by sudden acceleration-deceleration movements, and symptoms include pain and stiffness in the neck, muscle spasms, and headaches. This can affect your ability to work, do activities or play sports, so it is important to address these issues as soon as you can. With any treatment we address the neck (whiplash), along with the thoracic spine, and any other areas that are symptomatic. The thoracic spine contributes to movements in the neck, so it is important to receive mobility exercises for both the thoracic spine and neck. Oftentimes, treatments are only focused on the neck, but we want to be sure to address all affected areas.
Some of the exercises to address the neck and thoracic spine include:
- Upper trapezius stretch: Tilt your head to the side, and gently pull your head to the side with the hand of the same side you are tilting to. Do this 3 times, holding for 30 seconds.
- Levator scapulae stretch: Look down to the opposite shoulder of the side you are wanting to stretch. Using the hand of the side you are looking towards, gently push your head downwards to feel a stretch. Do this 3, holding for 30 seconds.
- Chin tucks: This is a stretch for the suboccipital muscles, which can be a culprit of headahces. Laying down on your back, tuck your chin in and hold for 5 seconds, feeling a gentle stretch along the back of the neck. Repeat this 10 times.
- Thoracic openers: Lay on your side with the top leg bent and propped up slightly (such as on a foam roller) with your arms stretched out in front of you. Open your chest by bringing your top arm up and around to touch the floor behind you, being sure to keep your top leg in contact with the foam roller. Do this 10 times and hold for 5 seconds.
- Thoracic rotations: This is a gentle stretch that is good if you are experiencing pain. While you are sitting, cross your arms and place your hands on your shoulders. Gently twist from side to side until you reach end range. You can target different parts of the thoracic spine by placing your hands on the back of the head or crossing your arms and placing your hands on your sides. Try each of these 10 times, holding the twist for 5 seconds.
Being involved in a motor vehicle accident can be a stressful time, but we are here to walk you through it. If you have been involved in an accident and have any questions, feel free to shoot us an email, give us a call, or book online to see one of our great physiotherapists.
