Massage Therapy for Accident Injuries

If you’ve been injured in a motor vehicle accident, you know that the road to recovery can be complicated and lengthy. After the initial injuries have been treated by a trauma team, you may find yourself facing a journey filled with pain and difficulty. Prescription medications are a part of many patient regimens, and physiotherapy is often part of your treatment plan. Rest is a necessity, and of course, taking care of yourself by eating well, drinking plenty of water, and exercising as you are able. A supplemental treatment that many physicians recommend to those healing from accident injuries is massage therapy. A registered massage therapist (RMT) can be a vital part of the recovery and rehabilitation process for accident victims; often rehabilitation centres have RMTs on staff. Ask your doctor if he/she thinks massage would be helpful for you, and ask them for a referral to a good massage therapist.

Massage for Injuries

Massage may not be appropriate for all injuries, but it has been proven to help in many cases. Shortly after an accident, you may not feel all of the effects due to the endorphin rush and increase in Adrenalin that accompanies situations of high stress. Once the endorphins ebb, you may experience additional pain and tension, and new symptoms may appear. Ask your doctor whether massage can help you to manage some of these symptoms. In many patients, massage can provide relief from pain, headaches, nerve compression, numbness, and muscle spasms. RMTs usually begin treatment with a gentle Swedish massage designed to relax and heal. Later on, deep tissue massage may be more beneficial. The goals of massage therapy following an accident usually include reducing stress, reducing pain and swelling, improving circulation, and improving range of motion. Here are some examples of how massage can be therapeutic for specific injuries:

• Whiplash. Whiplash is one of the most prevalent injuries sustained in motor vehicle accidents, particularly in cases where a car gets rear-ended. This injury occurs when your moving vehicle encounters a force that causes unrestrained, rapid forward-and-backward movement of the head and neck. Symptoms of whiplash include pain, stiffness, and a decrease in range of motion; it may also cause memory loss, emotional problems, or insomnia. Physiotherapy is usually recommended for whiplash, but a recent study in Ulm, Germany, found that a combination of massage and physiotherapy had better outcomes for patients than physiotherapy alone.

• Sprains and Strains. Your seatbelt may have saved your life in an accident, but the restraint it provided may also have caused your body to move in ways that created shoulder sprains, cervical, thoracic, or lumbar strains.

• Spinal Cord Injuries. Approximately one-third of all spinal cord injuries occur due to car accidents. Physiotherapy and occupational therapy are usually required to treat these injuries, but many patients report that regular massage therapy helps them to move more easily. Massage may increase blood flow to the area and help to speed healing.

• Concussion. Head injuries are also very common in motor vehicle accidents. Massage can help to bring relief from headache pain and improve mental focus for some people. It’s thought that relaxing the neck muscles through massage can allow misaligned neck vertebrae to realign.

• Inflammation. Physical trauma and inflammation can cause the fascia (the connective tissue that surrounds afflicted muscles, bones, organs and nerves) to tighten, inhibiting circulation and restricting movement. Massage can help to decrease inflammation.

• Emotional Trauma. The healing effects of massage can help to relieve the emotional stress and trauma experienced after a minor accident. It has been found that a massage treatment soon after an accident helps the patient to release emotionally, and return to a more relaxed state of mind.

• Managing Stress. Similarly, ongoing massage treatments can help accident victims to manage their stress and anxiety, as evidenced by improvements in blood pressure, heart rate, and respiration.

• Wounds. After a wound heals, massage to the area may help to prevent scar tissue from forming.

Personal Injury Lawyer

While your doctors are your primary health team, don’t be afraid to ask them about the possibility of seeing massage therapists, osteopaths, chiropractors, physical therapists, or psychotherapists. Your personal injury lawyer will be able to tell you whether or not the expenses associated with these types of treatments might be covered by your insurance policy. In fact, a good personal injury lawyer often knows a network of therapists who specialize in treating people who have been in accidents, and may be able to recommend professionals to you.

Choosing the right law firm after an accident can be the most important decision you will make with regard to getting your life back on track. He or she can assist you with filing an insurance claim (or a tort lawsuit, if that is an option,) and can be a great support to you and your family during a difficult time.

If you have experienced a motor vehicle accident, and feel that massage therapy may be right for you, contact your doctor to get a referral. Massage therapy can help to relieve several symptoms you may be experiencing after your accident, and that will help to put you back on the road to recovery.