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A car collision can leave you feeling shaken, but the physical impact isn’t always as obvious as a bruise or a broken bone. While modern vehicle safety technology is designed to protect your life, the intense kinetic energy of a crash is often absorbed by your body’s deepest tissues, leading to “hidden” trauma that might not surface for several days.
At Crowchild Physiotherapy – the best physiotherapy clinic in NW Calgary -, we specialize in identifying these subtle symptoms early, ensuring that minor aches don’t evolve into long-term chronic pain.
Understanding these unexpected motor vehicle accident injuries is the first step toward a full recovery.
Many people believe you only get a concussion if your head hits the steering wheel or the window. However, the rapid “whip” of the head during a collision can cause the brain to move inside the skull. This acceleration-deceleration force can lead to a concussion even without a single bruise on your forehead.
If you feel dizzy, sensitive to light, or “foggy” after an accident, your brain may have sustained a significant jar.
If your leg is extended, perhaps because you were slamming on the brakes, the force of the impact travels directly through the foot, up the leg, and into the hip socket. Alternatively, your knee may strike the dashboard. This can result in a torn posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) or deep hip inflammation.
These motor vehicle accident injuries often manifest as a dull ache in the groin or lower back that patients don’t initially link to the crash.
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Adrenaline is a powerful chemical. During an accident, your “fight or flight” response masks pain to help you handle the emergency. Once the adrenaline wears off, usually 24 to 72 hours later, the inflammatory process begins. This is why “delayed onset” pain is so common.
What felt like a minor stiffness on day one can become a complete loss of mobility by day three.
The very device that saves your life can also cause specific injuries. The immense pressure of a seatbelt during a high-speed stop can cause abdominal bruising, rib fractures, or strain to the internal organs.
More subtly, it can cause “tethering” in the chest and shoulder, leading to restricted breathing or chronic shoulder pain that won’t go away with simple rest.
Unexpected to many, the sudden bracing and extreme intra-abdominal pressure during a crash can impact the pelvic floor muscles. This can lead to new-onset lower back pain, pelvic instability, or even bladder urgency.
Addressing the pelvic floor is often a critical, though overlooked, part of a comprehensive MVA recovery plan.
Leaving motor vehicle accident injuries untreated can lead to chronic pain and long-term mobility issues. Scar tissue can form incorrectly, and your body may develop “compensation patterns”—like limping or hunching—to avoid pain, which eventually causes injuries in other parts of your body.
At Crowchild Physiotherapy, our expert team specializes in identifying these hidden “red flags.” We provide personalized treatment plans that include manual therapy, vestibular rehab, and guided exercises to ensure you don’t just feel better today, but stay healthy for years to come.
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Pelvic floor physiotherapy in NW Calgary
Located next to London Drugs & FreshCo in Brentwood Village Shopping Center.
Sun 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Mon 9:00 am – 7:30 pm
Tue 10:00 am – 8:00 pm
Wed 9:00 am – 7:30 pm
Thu 10:00 am – 8:00 pm
Fri 9:00 am – 7:30 pm
Sat 9:00 am – 4:00pm