Having children riding in the front seat of a car is common practice while often times illegal. You have to be 12 to sit in the front seat of a vehicle in many states. The age restriction is for children's safety. The air bag(s) located in the passenger seat are designed to protect your face and body from injury. A smaller individual can be injured by an air bag because they are not as big as older children or adults. Several problems can occur. Because of this a child could receive a concussion, head trauma, fracture and neck injuries. Over 30% of 10-year olds sit in the front passenger seat and about 55% of 13-year olds sit up front. Children riding in the front seat are 40% more likely to be injured in a crash than those riding in the back seat.   Only 14% of kids under age 13 rode in the front seat in 2004. Kids riding in the center rear seat position have a 43% lower risk of injury than those who sit in a rear outside position.

When your child has suffered injuries from a car accident while in the passenger seat, your child may need rehabilitation. Post trauma injury clinics provide you with a variety of rehabilitation options to fit you or your child's needs.

Passive therapy

Passive therapy is therapy for pain. Passive therapy methods help to control, stabilize, and diminish the pain you may be experiencing from your injury. Moist heat is a method of passive therapy. Moist heat involves hot towels and hot baths. The heat releases tension in your body by relaxing your muscles. Muscle tension can be the primary cause of your pain. Cryotherapy is another method of passive therapy. Cryotherapy, unlike moist heat, uses lower temperatures. The lower temperatures used in cryotherapy lower your body temperature possibly numbing the injured area and relieving the pain. Interferential/TENS is another method used in clinics and often times is confusing to understand. In general terms, this method uses electric voltage current. The electric currents are low and harmless; you will not feel any pain. The electric volts stimulate your nerves. When your brain notices the electric current, your perception of pain then becomes scrambled.

Active therapy

Another type of treatment often offered to help in rehabilitation is active therapy. Active therapy, as its name suggests, is hands on. Active therapy is manual therapy. Balance training is used to regain muscle control, along with core hardening. Core hardening improves your endurance and your muscle strength. Beams may also be used for injuries to the spine and legs. A cardiovascular massage is another method of active therapy. Often times, active training is used with weights and bands.

You can prevent injuries to your children by following the guidelines listed in the passenger's seat mirror above the seat. You can also lower the chances of minor injuries to children by correctly fastening them in seats. Keep small children snuggly fastened in booster and car seats at all times in a moving or non-moving vehicle.