| Related Links: |
When ligaments, tendons, or muscles are injured in a collision, microscopic tears can occur that result in soft tissue injuries. While these injuries can occur almost anywhere in the body, there are certain locations in the body that soft tissue injuries typically affect.
Types of Soft Tissue Injuries Victims of Car Accidents May Sustain
- Contusion – As a result of a blow in a crash, a deep bruise to the muscles, ligaments, or tendons can develop and leave blood pools around the injury.
- Strain injury – When muscles and tendons are forced beyond their ability, microtears can occur. Because tendons connect the muscle to the bone, the tendons surrounding the knees, ankles, and back are often injured in car accidents.
- Sprain injury – When ligaments are stretched beyond normal, microscopic tears can be the result. The ligaments that typically suffer the most damage in crashes include those surrounding the spine, knees, ankles, shoulders, and wrists.
- Bursitis – A bursa (a fluid-filled sac that surrounds a bone and a tendon or muscle) can become inflamed. This often occurs in the hip, elbow, shoulder, wrist, knee or ankle.
- Subluxation – When a crash causes the vertebrae to become misaligned, it can put pressure on the nerves and interfere with the blood supply—causing deterioration of muscles, ligaments, and tendons.
Soft tissue injuries are often treated with rest, ice, compression and elevation—known as the RICE method. However, some soft tissue injuries that result in damage to muscles, ligaments or tendons may require surgery or ongoing physical therapy. This is why it is important to never ignore a soft tissue injury following a car crash on U.S. 301 or any other roadway, and to always seek medical treatment.
Let others know about the potential for soft tissue injuries and about the importance of seeing a doctor after a collision by sharing this blog with your friends and family on Facebook.
