Recovery time
Whiplash recovery time can vary and depends on the severity of the injury. Also, everyone’s body is different and it’s difficult to predict how soon the symptoms will improve. In general, whiplash usually gets better within 2-3 months.8 If your neck pain has lasted for 6 months or more, the whiplash is considered a chronic (longstanding) injury.3 Between 12 to 50 percent of people have some remaining neck pain one year after the whiplash.14 You can speed up recovery by starting an exercise regimen soon after the injury.
What is the fastest way to treat whiplash?
The quickest way to recover from whiplash is to stay active and begin an exercise regimen after the accident. It makes sense to take things easy for the first few days after a whiplash injury. But, after an initial period of rest, doctors recommend you start stretching and strengthening the neck muscles to treat whiplash.
How long does whiplash take to heal?
The time it takes for whiplash symptoms to get better varies from person to person. The symptoms may last only a few days, If the injury to the soft tissues of the neck is minor. If the injury is severe, the whiplash symptoms may be present for many months. In the majority of people, the injury heals within 6-12 weeks.8
What happens if whiplash goes untreated?
Be aware that shock and adrenaline can mask your symptoms immediately after the injury. That’s why you should be attentive to whiplash symptoms in the days and weeks following an accident. If you are experiencing pain or other symptoms, you should start treatment as soon as possible. This will help prevent long-term neck pain. If you do not start exercising, the pain and discomfort of whiplash can last for months, even years. Untreated whiplash can also lead to other more serious symptoms, such as vertigo (dizziness), headaches, misalignment of the spine, and degeneration of the spinal discs.15
Whiplash is treatable – exercise is the key
Physical activity will be an important part of your recovery,if you have neck pain or other symptoms from a whiplash injury. Neck stretches and strengthening exercises may be slightly painful to start with, but will ultimately help control your pain. Also, people who have suffered whiplash once are more likely to suffer neck injuries in the future.3 Building up neck muscle strength is important to protect yourself against neck pain returning in the future.13
The Injurymap app has a variety of stretches and strengthening exercises for the neck. You can speed up your recovery from whiplash injury by doing these exercises regularly. Exercising will also help you prevent future neck problems. Injurymap’s exercises have been developed by experts. The app demonstrates the correct postures and techniques, making it easy for you to follow along at home. Take advantage of the 14-day free trial of the IM app to see how it can benefit you.
Whiplash is often perceived as a minor injury, nothing more than a twinge in the neck after a fender-bender. But, without the proper treatment, it can turn into something far more serious with long-term health effects. Don’t wait until your whiplash becomes a debilitating, longstanding condition. Start with an exercise program soon after a whiplash injury to prevent ongoing pain and complications down the road.
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