Many people don’t realize how severe an auto accident can be. However, much research shows that the aftermath of an automobile accident can leave your body in tremendously bad shape that many think is impossible to recover from. As a San Francisco Physical Therapist, I have noticed that many people are misinformed when it comes to whiplash. I hope this article will help better explain whiplash, why it happens, and how Physical Therapy of San Francisco can help.

I want to address a very common question: what happens to your body that causes a whiplash injury to occur? Whiplash can happen whenever your body suffers from an abrupt jolt. Most whiplash injuries happen when you are sitting in a fixed position in your car and are rear-ended by another car. Because this happens so fast, your body doesn’t have time to react before your car is pushed forward. During those moments of impact, your body gets pushed down into your seat. Your head, which is heavy and secluded by your neck, is delayed in reaction, while your body is continually pushed down. Quickly after, your head changes directions by traveling forward to the limit your seatbelt will allow. Finally, once your head reaches the limit traveling forward, it is forced backwards in reaction. Because your neck is not restricted by your seatbelt, your head is jolted back and forth beyond its standard limits. When this “whipping" action occurs, it causes much damage to the already extremely fragile neck structure.

What a lot of people don’t realize is that it can take multiple days (usually around two or three) before any whiplash symptoms occur. Common whiplash symptoms include headaches, neck pain, and loss of motion. The reason it can take a few days to feel the symptoms is because it can take time for the inflammation from the tiny tears in the injured ligaments and muscles to build up and further aggravate you. When the delicate ligaments that support your neck are wounded, the muscles react by tightening to guard the injured area. This protects the damaged area from further injury.

A few weeks following this injury, the distressed tissue releases chemicals that attach little cells to the wounded area, called Fibroblasts. They build up, creating a scar-like material called fibrin. Fibrin then helps mend and re-build the injury. During these few weeks of repair, it is extremely important to maintain normal ranges of motion, as well as spinal alignment. If this is not done properly, the scar tissue will end up limiting the future mobility of the injured area. This can lead to spinal degeneration.

The good news is that by performing precise, detailed Physical Therapy by a registered Physical Therapist from Physical Therapy of San Francisco, along with treating the injury with different exercises and modalities, your body will have a much better chance of rebuilding properly. This means less chronic pain, stiffness, disc degeneration, and pinched nerves. We can help alleviate your pain and rebuild your spinal structures. These treatment options also severely reduce future injuries from occurring. So if you have whiplash, schedule an examination with your trusted San Francisco Auto Accident Physical Therapists, Physical Therapy of San Francisco today!

• Auto Injuries
• Whiplash
• Scoliosis
• Sacroiliac Injuries
• Work-Related Injuries
• Low Back Pain
• Sciatica
• Bursitis
• Tendonitis

• Post-Surgical Rehabilitation
• Herniated Discs
• Leg Pain
• Osteoarthritis
• Osteoporosis
• Sports Injuries
• Headaches
• Plantar Fasciitis
• Ankle Sprains

• Frozen Shoulder
• Shoulder Pain
• Upper Back & Neck Pain
• Knee Injuries
• Muscle Strains
• Tennis Elbow
• Golfer's Elbow
• Tingling or Numbness
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Who We Are

Physical Therapy of San Francisco provides premium physical therapy in San Francisco. We are proud to serve and care for our community and we have a prime location easily accessible to the residents of San Francisco and surrounding areas. Our functional goals for patients include decreasing your pain, restoring your mobility, and increasing strength and flexibility; but that isn’t the end of our commitment to you. Our mission is to not only undo any damage done to your body but provide insight and knowledge on how to prevent further damage from afflicting your life.

As health care professionals, Marc Joseph Rabideau, PT of San Francisco and his staff promise to use their clinical knowledge to educate you on the healing process you’re embarking upon. Physical Therapy of San Francisco’s patients often come seeking help and they have resolved their multiple issues like back/neck pain, herniated discs, sciatica, knee pain, IT band syndrome, sprains, shoulder pain, rotator cuff tendonitis, tennis/golfer’s elbow, headaches, and more

As a Physical Therapist, Marc Joseph Rabideau, PT of San Francisco is concerned about your body's overall health! Marc Joseph Rabideau, PT of San Francisco can evaluate and treat most joint conditions. He can teach you how to strengthen and protect your back, neck and joints with exercises and proper movement. As a Physical Therapist, Marc Joseph Rabideau, PT of San Francisco can also teach you about healthy lifestyle choices because, after all, the health of your spine is linked to the health of your entire body!

General Physical Therapy Information

Physical Therapy is often defined as a form of rehabilitative health. Physical Therapists are known for using forms of exercise and special equipment exactly designed to help clients in pain to regain or improve their physical capabilities.

Physical Therapy, or PT, helps to regain a client's capabilities to function by helping to minimize physical damage, disability-related and acquired conditions, and most functional limitations.

Most people who are experience a problem while moving, and it continues to prevent them from performing their daily activities, should pursue physical therapy.

Who Is Physical Therapy Good For?

Our team is comprised of both movement specialists and healers equipped to handle a range of patients. From expecting mothers to injury-prone children, fitness beginners to professional athletes, we work both reactively to heal and proactively prevent injuries.

Physical Therapy is good for all ages! All age groups, from children and teens, to adults and seniors, have to move and function to complete their daily activities. At any point in your life, Physical Therapists are there to help. They want to promote healthy lifestyles, wellness, and most importantly, educate clients on ways to prevent injuries that create a loss of movement.

Physical Therapists are also known for assisting clients in maintaining their health by preventing future deterioration and illness. They can help educate clients on how to make certain environmental adaptations. This allows them to function much more independently. From children born with musculoskeletal birth defects, to adults who endure the pain from sciatica, Physical Therapists can help!

For Pre- And Post- Natal Therapy

Our physical therapy services for expecting and recent mothers can help improve posture and strengthen your muscles to prevent or relieve the pains and aches of pregnancy. These symptoms include headaches, backaches, and cramps. With strengthening exercises centered around abdominal, lower back, and pelvic muscles, we can help you prepare for your baby’s delivery.

Post-partum therapy is also a crucial element of returning to optimal pre-pregnancy condition. We recommend exercises that restore flexibility in the abdomen and back since the unequal forces caused by weight gain during a pregnancy can mean long-term dysfunction if this isn’t addressed.

For Athletes

Our services can help with cross-training as well as sport-specific movements including, but not limited to, soccer, basketball, football, swimming, volleyball, baseball, tennis, and triathlons. Our physical screenings look for muscle imbalances, tightness, and instabilities that may prevent you from performing at your optimal level. Every athlete knows that prevention is as important as rehabilitation and we educate our patients with proper weight training techniques and corrective exercises.

For Post-Surgical Rehabilitation

A successful operation rarely means that you’ll be fit to walk immediately after. Typically, a patient’s return to optimal fitness depends entirely on a tailored physical therapy program that works to restore health and joint motion. We keep in mind the patient’s comfort and self-esteem while determining exercises that will strengthen muscles and improve flexibility. Gait analysis after an operation is crucial to see if other muscles are compensating for any weakness caused by the surgery. We look to understand every surgical patients needs and guide them towards recovery.

Why choose Physical Therapy of San Francisco?

We know that you have a choice for your physical therapy needs, so why choose us? Here are a few reasons:

• We have warm, professional, and inviting clinics
• We care about getting you better
• Highly skilled physical therapist with strong background in manual therapy
• Communication with your physician(s) about your progress and condition
• Convenient location to better serve you

Conditions We Treat