You hear the crash and feel the impact of a collision. A Motor Vehicle Accident (MVA) can be one of the scariest and most stressful situations. And chances are, if the automobile sustained any damage, there’s a good chance your body may have been injured as well. People often report feeling fine immediately following the accident. When the body’s fight or flight response is triggered, cortisol kicks in to get you to safety. But in the days or weeks following an accident, it’s not uncommon to discover pain and injury as a result of the impact.
Massage after an automobile accident
In my late 20s, I was in an accident and didn’t realize that anything was wrong until about 4 hours later when the stiffness and soreness set in. Luckily, I found a skilled medical massage therapist and a chiropractor, who together helped me start to heal and return to my previously pain-free life. This experience led me on the path to eventually study massage and find a career I’m passionate about. I wanted to help others experience the peace and freedom from pain that I found through regular massage therapy.
Receiving regular therapeutic massage after a motor vehicle accident can have a significant impact on healing. In addition to shortening recovery time, it can also decrease the chances of having lingering pain and dysfunction in the months and even years following an accident.
The benefits of massage following an automobile accident
Immediately following a severe injury, massage may not sound like a good idea. It’s true that depending on the severity of your injuries, it may be best to wait a week or two until acute swelling has receded and your injuries begin to heal. Once you’re on the road to recovery, gentle and targeted medical massage can calm your nervous system and speed healing. At Balanced Massage, our therapists are trained first to calm your nervous system and then gently ease into injured tissues, which helps avoid flare-ups and soreness afterward. We work slowly and build on the previous sessions after monitoring how your body responds to massage.
Massage therapy offers numerous benefits to speed the healing process, including:
- Calming your nervous system and taking your body out of fight or flight
- Helping relieve the stress and PTSD often suffered post-accident
- Relieving the pain of whiplash and sprain strain injuries
- Increasing range of motion and circulation
- Decreasing inflammation and stiffness
- Decreasing scar tissue
- Avoiding long-term dysfunctional patterns adopted due to the pain and injury
Can you bill my auto insurance for massage?
As long as you have open Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and a prescription from your practitioner for massage, Balanced Massage can bill your insurance directly for massage. If you are still determining your coverage or have been receiving other treatments such as chiropractic under your claim, call your insurance company to find out if you still have PIP available.
Your PIP coverage will pay for massage treatments that are related to your accident for up to two years from the date of the accident, until your PIP benefits have been exhausted, or until massage has been deemed no longer medically necessary (usually after an exam with an independent medical examiner which the insurance company can request).
Should I see my doctor before starting massage?
It’s always best to be evaluated by your doctor or chiropractor after an automobile accident, especially if you have any new or unusual symptoms. If you’re considering massage therapy as part of your recovery, talk to your healthcare provider about incorporating it into your treatment plan. If they determine it would be beneficial, they can provide a prescription that includes your diagnosis (e.g., whiplash, lumbar sprain/strain), along with the recommended frequency and duration of treatment. Once you have your prescription, you can schedule your first appointment with us.
At your initial visit, we’ll handle some necessary paperwork, so please bring a copy of your auto insurance card, a valid photo ID, your claim number, and the contact information for your claims adjuster. After completing these steps, we’ll assess your injury and get you comfortable for a gentle, hands-on massage tailored to your needs.
Don’t wait to start feeling better with a post-injury auto-accident massage
Recovering from a motor vehicle accident takes time, care, and the right support. Massage therapy can play an essential role in helping you heal, both physically and emotionally, from the trauma of an accident. At Balanced Massage, we’re dedicated to providing gentle, effective treatments to help you heal. We’ll help you regain mobility, reduce pain, and get back to living your life with confidence. Don’t let lingering pain hold you back – schedule your post-accident massage today and take the first step toward a full recovery.