Whiplash can be a devastating injury that could ultimately prevent you from undergoing the activities you love and going on about your lifestyle at a normal pace. Although you may be in a hurry to return to your daily activities, it is important not to rush your recovery, especially when it comes to going back to your yoga routine or any other demanding physical activity.

What Causes Whiplash?

According to the Mayo Clinic, whiplash is caused by the forceful and quick backwards and forwards jerking of the neck. Such injury is “commonly caused by rear-end car accidents” and the recovery process can take up to weeks.

What Types of Car Accidents May Result In Whiplash?

Brookdale Health’s specialists in auto-related injuries show that every year, more than three million Americans get whiplash following a car accident. You might think that only high-speed car accidents can result in neck injuries, but that is not true. Even low-speed car crashes can cause whiplash. Rush University Medical Center informs us that the majority of whiplash incidents occur when the car is going slower than 10 mph.

Physical Effects of Whiplash

Following a car accident, you may be excited to get back to your yoga routine, but you may find yourself suffering from the lingering side effects of having whiplash. This may make it impossible to resume your typical daily activities as soon as you’d wish, given the fact that such injury requires proper healing time. Most individuals can combat recovery in a few weeks, however, this will involve following special treatment and taking a break from extreme physical exercise.

Frequent results of whiplash include, but are not limited to:

• Neck stiffness or feeling of tightness.
• Severe, dull, and aching pain in the neck.
• Headaches and back pain.
• Memory, balance, and concentration problems.

Length of Recovery for Whiplash

On one hand, the good news is that you will likely recover from whiplash without any lingering difficulty. On the other hand, depending on the severity of the injury, it is possible that your recovery could take longer than you’d like. In some of the best cases, the discomfort may heal after a few weeks. In other cases, it may take several months to heal. Nevertheless, for some, the lingering neck and back pain may persist even longer.

Treatment for Whiplash

The good news for Yoga enthusiasts is that recovering from whiplash does not require you to remain completely still. In fact, the British Columbia Medical Journal emphasizes that most cases of whiplash can be treated by remaining active and performing specific neck exercises.

Additionally, one of their recommendations is to return to your daily routine as soon as you are able to do so. This can even include your yoga routine, as long as it is advised or approved by a medical specialist.

Using Yoga as a Treatment for Whiplash

There are two important guidelines that you should consider before restarting or even starting yoga for your recovery from whiplash:

• Get the approval of your medical provider.
• Make sure you are through with the most complicated recovery phase.

Other Tips for Incorporating Yoga into Whiplash Recovery

Once you have determined that yoga is the right road to take in your recovery path, begin working with an instructor who is experienced in dealing with recovering patients. Working with experienced professionals will ensure that your safety is guarded during your routines.

Even if you are a yoga professional, you should be prepared for the possibility of experiencing some discomfort as you ease back into your routine. You should also make sure to take it easy while easily sliding back into your lifestyle’s normal pace. Be mindful of your physical effort and only practice gentle movements.

Consider Discussing Your Case With an Attorney

If you have experienced a car accident that caused whiplash, you might be entitled to compensation for your injury. It is very important to keep in mind that whiplash is not only an injury that could require some time to be treated, but also an impediment for an individual’s performance in their daily life. If the pain of your injury continues to have lingering effects, you may have to spend huge amounts of money on expensive medical bills. If you need time off work, you may need to be compensated for the jobs you aren’t getting. Getting the help of a lawyer after a car accident will ensure you get the maximum recoverable damages.

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