Midnight, the 6th of January 2020, was when I got involved in a car accident. I was driving along the empty streets with heavy lids as drowsiness loomed above me. It was really reckless and irresponsible on my part to sit behind the wheel late and tired. I knew my condition at that time was not fit for the road, but I still decided to drive home.
I remember what my older brother said when he was teaching me to drive. It takes one second for the brain to process and react to the information it gets. A lot could happen in that one second, especially if you are a driver.
I still remember how my eyelids drooped slowly, how I hit the brake with strength, how the airbag hit my face and how a strong impact knocked my chest and head against my seat.
Luckily, my injuries weren't as bad as what we see on TV. I remembered the constant hammering headache, sharp pain around the neck and intense shoulder and back pain. After hospitalisation and brain scans, I was subjected to injury rehabilitation. I went to physiotherapy in Singapore.
The Post-accident Physical Therapy in Singapor
I will narrate in this part my experience with post-accident physiotherapy in Singapore.
What is Physiotherap
Physiotherapy is a practice that uses exercise, movements, stretches and massages to restore and improve mobility and flexibility of the body.
Physiotherapy is used to aid recovery from injuries.
Several sports injuries use physiotherapy in Singapore as part of the rehabilitation. A Baby osteopath, on the other hand, practices physical therapy in Singapore suitable and sensitive to children's bodies.
The Role of Physical Therapy in Car-Accident InjuriesCar accident injuries inflict blows to the body. From deadly brain damage to broken bones down to stiffness and sprains.
In my case, I obtained head, neck and back problems. I experienced headaches, whiplash and cervical dislocation.
Physical therapy helps in speeding the recovery process from these kinds of injuries. It can also reduce the chances of surgery if your condition becomes better after attending a physiotherapy programme in Singapore. It is instrumental in restoring the optimal mobility and flexibility of the affected body parts pre-accident.
A similar role goes for sports physiotherapy in Singapore.
Rehabilitation and Recover
Headach
I have experienced constant massive headaches days after my accident. It is so excruciating that painkillers can't manage the pounding on my temples anymore.
After getting cleared from potential brain and nerve damage, my therapist from City Osteopathy & Physiotherapy impression is that the headaches are due to whiplash and cervical dislocation.
I like to emphasise that before consulting with your physical therapists regarding your headache, it is important to undergo diagnostic tests like a CT scan or MRI to determine the cause.
Otherwise, your therapist will still require you to do so. Infection, head trauma, substance withdrawal and sometimes psychiatric disorder can cause a headache.
Whiplash
The treatment for my whiplash through physical therapy in Singapore involved deep tissue massage, which helped release the tensions on the tissues surrounding my neck.It also helped reduce the stiffness I experienced around my neck, relaxing the tendons, muscles and ligaments affected by the trauma.
My headaches significantly improved after two weeks of physiotherapy in Singapore.
Cervical Dislocation
I have experienced instability months after my accident due to cervical dislocation. Sports physiotherapy in Singapore commonly receives similar cases.
I would consider myself lucky since my cervical dislocation did not attribute any neurological damages or issues.
My therapist from City Osteopathy & Physiotherapy assessed my posture, range of mobility, and the pain and soreness on my back.
The rehabilitation process for my cervical dislocation was pretty slow compared to my whiplash.
The first month consisted of rests and specific rest to avoid irritating the sore joints, muscles and ligaments. It was also to allow the affected area to heal before practising any movement.The second stage of my rehabilitation is massage. The massage was gentle, like what a baby osteopath would do on the child's fragile body.
The massage helped to release the tight muscles and soft tissues to reduce the strain. I was also asked to do some specific positioning of the muscles to give it a stretch. All these activities were slow and conducted step by step.
Parts of the exercises were strengthening the neck and joint mobilisation. It is to regain strength, upper body coordination, shoulder and arm flexibility and aerobic conditioning. It took me at least two months of regular therapy to regain my balance and stability and improve my mobility. I still do movement exercises gradually to ensure my safety.
Conclusion
Although it took an entire year, physical therapy in Singapore has been vital to my recovery. Physiotherapy is not for car accident injury alone. Sports injuries and even immobility problems due to health conditions can also be treated through physiotherapy.
City Osteopathy & Physiotherapy
City Osteopathy & Physiotherapy provides the best and complete physical therapy to help Singaporeans improve and regain their mobility. Book your appointment with City Osteopathy & Physiotherapy today.
