Should I Receive Massage Therapy After a Car Accident?

Recovering from a car accident is always a slow and careful journey.

Car accidents have the potential to cause both physical and emotional injuries. Some injuries will heal, and some stay with you far longer than the aftermath of the accident itself. From minor scrapes and sprains to long-term health challenges, car accidents can have a powerful impact on your life. The path to recovery often involves a combined effort of medical expertise and personal strength. But you don't have to go through it alone.
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Whether you are going through physical therapy to recover from your injuries or struggle with sleep after the emotional shock of the accident, massage has the potential to help. Massage therapy after a car accident can, in many cases, help you recover from both the physical and emotional damage of the event.


Massage and Physical Therapy

Serious injuries from a car accident often require physical therapy for weeks, months, or years to build your path to recovery. While the work with your physical therapist and the "homework" exercises are very important, so too is the ability to move without tension and to minimize pain. 

Physical therapists often recommend massage to complement and enhance a physical therapy program. Massage will help to relax your muscles, unwind your tendons, and allow you to move more freely. It can also release tension caused by dealing with a painful injury and alleviate stress so you can focus fully on your recovery.


Promoting Healing With Enhanced Circulation

Your rate of healing is influenced by the efficiency of your blood circulation. Red blood cells carry oxygen and other nutrients to the healing areas of your body, providing the building blocks needed for your body to grow new tissue that is healthy and strong.

Massage promotes circulation through gentle and expert manipulation of your soft tissue. One of the best effects of a massage is the boost to your healing rate and immune system.

For car accident injuries like sprains and strains, and for injuries that have healed enough to be safe for massage, you can increase your healing rate to achieve full recovery from the car accident faster.


Easing the Emotional Trauma of an Accident

Car accidents can be deeply upsetting, and not always for obvious reasons. Even one-car accidents and accidents where no one is badly hurt can leave you rattled and emotionally affected by the experience. It's normal to experience fear, anxiety, and even irrational anger for weeks and months after a car accident, no matter what the situation or outcome. While mental health support and emotional exercises can help, so can massage.

Massage is a deeply relaxing experience in a quiet, safe environment. Massage rooms are often designed to help you feel safe and at ease, while the gentle touch of the massage itself has a biochemical effect on the body that helps you release serotonin and dopamine, neurotransmitters that allow you to feel happy and safe.

For these reasons, massage is often paired with talk therapy and meditation to help those who have been in a car accident recover from the emotional trauma.


Helping You Sleep Soundly After a Car Accident

Having sleep problems after a car accident is also a normal challenge. Difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, and sleep disturbances are a reflection of the physical and emotional disruption of the crash. Fortunately, massage can help with this as well.  Massage not only induces a relaxed and sleepy experience during the therapy. Several factors also contribute to deeper and better sleep after getting a massage.
Full-body relaxation, the release of physically held tension, the release of serotonin, and the emotional ease often triggered by a massage can all help you overcome sleep disturbances and get that good night's sleep you've been needing since the accident occurred.


When to Get a Massage After a Car Accident

If you have been in a recent car accident, a massage can help you on the path to recovery. However, it's important to have your injuries examined and approved by medical professionals before booking your massage.
Severe injuries and open wounds may need to heal before it is safe to massage around or near the area. However, a properly sealed and bandaged wound or a set and braced broken bone can make it possible to get a massage that avoids disturbing the area while gaining the advantages of relaxation and improved healing.
Soft-tissue damage, such as sprains or whiplash, can benefit from massage as soon as your doctor gives their approval. Spinal injuries should be treated with extreme care and may require collaboration between your doctor and the massage therapist, if permitted.

It is also advised to get a full physical after a car accident to identify potentially hidden internal damage. However, if you have suffered only minor soft-tissue damage, it is possible to get a massage within days after your accident to promote healing and accelerate your recovery.


Healing After a Car Accident with Massage 

If you are seeking massage therapy in Jacksonville, Florida to help you recover from the injuries and emotional impact of a car accident, you can search for "massage near me" to find highly rated massage practices. The massage therapists at The Wellness Hub are here to help, with many massage specialties to serve your unique needs. Our team will work with your medical needs and collaborate with your doctor as needed to ensure you can enjoy the full benefits of professional massage while minimizing any risk associated with healing or delicate injuries.

Whether you are looking to promote healing, overcome emotional trauma, or regain quality sleep, you can find compassionate and personalized massage services at The Wellness Hub in Jacksonville, FL.




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