Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Process After a Traffic Accident

Because traffic accidents (motorcycle or car accidents) create a very sudden, uncontrolled, and high-energy trauma in the body, they can simultaneously cause many serious injuries such as bone fractures, complex ligament tears, deep muscle tears, and nerve damage[cite: 50]. After the life-threatening danger and shock of the accident in the emergency room have passed, and orthopedic surgical interventions or casting procedures are completed, the Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation phase, which is the real long recovery process, begins[cite: 50].

What are the Most Common Hidden and Obvious Traumas in Traffic Accidents?

Various biomechanical injuries occur depending on the direction of the impact the body takes in traffic accidents and the use of seat belts[cite: 50]. The cases that present most frequently to the clinic are[cite: 50]:

• Whiplash Syndrome: It is the violent tossing of the neck (head) back and forth at a very high speed (like a whip) due to the sudden stopping or launching of the vehicle, usually in rear-end collisions[cite: 50]. Even if a fracture is not visible on X-rays, the neck ligaments and muscles are severely torn[cite: 50]. In the following days, it causes very severe neck pain, spasms radiating to the back, numbness in the arms, and dizziness[cite: 50].
• Intra-articular Fractures and Dislocations: Multi-fragmented damages and dislocations occurring in major joints like the shoulder, knee (especially hitting the front dashboard or steering wheel), or hip due to the impact[cite: 50].
• Soft Tissue Injuries: Ligament tears and deep tissue (muscle) crush injuries around the chest and collarbone due to the pressure created by the seat belt or airbag deployment[cite: 50].

What Do We Do in the Post-Accident Rehabilitation Process?

This process, which we carry out in our clinic in Marmaris or directly in the patient's own home when they cannot mobilize (cannot walk), requires great patience, psychological support, and expertise[cite: 50]. Our goal is not just the healing of the broken bone, but the complete return of the patient to their pre-accident independent quality of life[cite: 50]:

• Manual Therapy: Restoring the locked and stiffened joint range of motion (ROM) to its safe physiological limits with the physiotherapist's special joint gliding techniques[cite: 50].
• Clinical Medical Exercise: Re-strengthening the weakened muscles that wasted away during casting or bed rest with special resistance (Theraband) exercise protocols and initiating gait training[cite: 50].
• Neurological (Nerve) Stimulation: Supporting nerve healing (regeneration) and eliminating numbness with sensory stimulations (TENS, EMS) in areas with nerve damage due to cuts or fractures[cite: 50].
• Fascial Release and Scar Massage: Connective tissue massages performed to resolve the severe spasm in the neck muscles in Whiplash syndrome and to prevent surgical scar tissues from adhering under the skin (preventing movement restriction)[cite: 50].