Motor Vehicle Accident | Vehicle Accident | Compression Fractures | Maya Physical Therapy

Motor vehicle accident and related Injuries

Whiplash and back injuries are suffered by most victims involved motor vehicle accident. Over 200 million people suffer from whiplash in U.S. Rear impact motor vehicle accident can cause sudden abnormal motion in the neck. The word whiplash stands for damage of the bone as well as tissue. Even though whiplash is not a life treating injury, it may lead to partial disability for a prolonged time. After the motor vehicle accident, most of the people recover from whiplash injuries in a reasonable amount of time. In some cases, patient may continue to have the symptoms years after injury.

What causes whiplash?

Whiplash injuries are caused by rear impact motor vehicle accident. The force from the impact causes the person’s torso to move forward while the unrestrained head and neck falls back. This puts the neck in a hyper extension position. Studies indicate that after the motor vehicle accident lower cervical vertebrae are forced in to a hyperextension position while the upper cervical vertebrae is forced to a hyperflexed position and causes the cervical spine to assume a ‘S’ shape which is totally abnormal. It also causes damages to muscles, ligaments and facet capsule which hold the cervical vertebrae together.

What are symptoms?

The symptoms include neck pain, headache, shoulder pain and stiffness, dizziness, fatigue, jaw pain and weakness, visual disturbances and rigging in ears. In severe cases it may lead to depression, anger, frustration, anxiety, stress, insomnia and many other symptoms.

How to treat it?

It is very crucial to educate the patients about the injury. The patient should be educated about the cause, symptoms, treatment methods and possible outcomes. Patient who does not receive this information are most likely to develop farther whiplash associated chronic disorders.

Your doctor may prescribe a soft cervical collar. This is to avoid any farther injuries. It is very important to start moving as soon as possible since immobilization can cause long recovery period. It also causes muscle atrophy, reduced blood flow and delays healing of damaged muscles tissue. Engaging in ROM exercises has proved to improve symptoms. Physical therapy will help you to regain the strength of the muscles as well as reduce pain motion.

Back Injuries

Back Injuries which causes chronic pain are the worst and most prevalent injury suffered by the victims involved in car accident. Ten percent of these car accident back injuries can lead to long term pain and disability in those affected. Motor vehicle accident can cause herniated disc, spinal cord injuries, and compression fractures

Sprains and strains

Low impact motor vehicle accident can cause sprain or strains. Sprain occurs when one the ligaments are stretched, twisted or torn. The jerky motion during the motor vehicle accident causes it to happen. Muscle strain occurs when the muscle fibers are stretched or torn. The symptoms include stiffness, bruising, muscle soreness, numbness or tingling

Herniated Disc

Our spine is made of 33 vertebrae that are stacked up on top of one another. There is a rubbery piece of cartilage between these vertebrae and is called the intervertebral disk. Imagine disk as a tire with gelatin kind of substance on the hole of the tire. The tire (outer part) is called the annulus and the gelatin type of substance is called the nucleus Motor vehicle accident causes the discs to slip from its place or to rupture. As a result, the space the vertebrae decreases and the disk becomes flatter and less flexible .When the rough surface of the vertebral joint rub together, inflammation occurs and may feel pain as the nerves get compressed or irritated. It may occur throughout the spine or may confine to one disk. In several cases, since the nerve gets compressed, it may lead to sciatica which is experience by numbness, tingling and even weakness in arms and legs.

Compression Fractures

Motor vehicle accident can cause compression fractures. It usually occurs among the older adults. The force of the impact may create tiny cracks on the bones which will eventually result in deformity or collapsing of bone. Symptoms of compression fracture include difficulty in breathing and change in posture.

Sanjaimon Naduparambil,
Physical Therapist

Phone: (954) 252-9619

Sanjay Naduparambil is a Florida State licensed Physical Therapist who graduated from the Dr. MGR Medical University in Chennai, India. Sanjay has over 20 years of experience in a variety of treatment settings including acute care, cardiac rehabilitation, wound care, neurological treatment, home healthcare and outpatient orthopedics. He has spent the last 10 years perfecting his treatment skills in the area of orthopedics and has been described by his patients as a highly competent and compassionate clinician. In early 2012, Sanjay established Maya Physical Therapy, Inc with the goal of providing the community with quality therapy services that go beyond the standards of care.


Sanjay has furthered his education/training by completing continuing education courses in the following areas: kinesiology taping, vestibular rehabilitation, cardiac rehabilitation, and hip/ knee/ankle/ shoulder diagnosis and treatment. He has also completed the first and second phase of the McKenzie post graduate program for cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine mechanical diagnosis and treatment from McKenize Institute USA. In addition to his qualifications as a Physical Therapist, Sanjay has received his certification as a Personal Trainer by the International Sports and Fitness Trainers Association.


Sanjay’s professional interests include expanding his already extensive knowledge base through ongoing clinical education in manual treatment and differential diagnosis.