Injury

Regaining Fitness after a Road Accident

Mathew Howard considers the journey we may take to recover from a road accident.

The rehabilitation process after acquiring an injury through a road accident can be a long and slow one, and you will likely require the support of a range of professionals. Regular check-ups are advised to ensure your recovery is heading in the right direction. Always check with your GP before undertaking a new exercise regime or rehabilitation program after an accident or illness.

Care should be taken not to cause any more damage to muscles and joints. When starting to regain fitness, your main priority should be maintaining proper body alignment and avoiding poor technique when performing exercises of any kind. Your recovery will be aided by maintaining a healthy lifestyle—a balanced diet and a regular sleeping pattern are vital parts of this process.

You may be prescribed rest after your accident or injury, but this does not mean remaining sedentary unless specifically requested by your doctor. Gentle activity that does not stress the affected area or cause pain will stimulate circulation and promote recovery. Injuries in a localised body part may only require you to rest one area, not your whole body. You can amend your training routine and regain fitness by working on the non-affected areas.

Over time, you should regain fitness by strengthening the weakened muscles caused by your accident or injury. Start small and work up to increase endurance. Dynamic, active stretching alongside cardio and resistance training will help you regain your entire range of motion. The key is to schedule a progressive return to full training—pushing yourself (within reason) and working hard but not hard enough to cause further injury or pain.

For those with a severe brain or spinal injury, you may need to relearn skills and find new ways of doing things you did before, and you may require help from a range of specialists to aid your recovery. In particular, physiotherapy focuses on helping your strength, mobility, and fitness and may be undertaken alongside other forms of rehabilitation like occupational therapy, speech-language therapy, and pain treatment.

When a road accident causes a severe injury, you may be able to seek compensation through specialist lawyers for the injuries caused and to cover the costs of long-term rehabilitation and treatment, specialist equipment, or adapting your home.

Other options for those struggling to pay for their treatment are charities such as the Queen Elizabeth's Foundation for Disabled People and disabilityrightsuk.org/ which offer a range of mobility services designed to get you back to your desired fitness.

Page Reference

If you quote information from this page in your work, then the reference for this page is:

HOWARD, M. (2013) Regaining Fitness after a Road Accident [WWW] Available from: https://www.brianmac.co.uk/articles/article121.htm [Accessed

About the Author

Matthew Howard is a freelance writer.


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The rehabilitation process after acquiring an injury through a road accident can be a long and slow one, and you will likely require the support of a range of professionals. Regular check-ups are advised to ensure your recovery is heading in the right direction. Always check with your GP before undertaking a new exercise regime or rehabilitation program after an accident or illness. Care should be taken not to cause any more damage to muscles and joints. When starting to regain fitness, your main priority should be maintaining proper body alignment and avoiding poor technique when performing exercises of any kind. Your recovery will be aided by maintaining a healthy lifestyle—a balanced diet and a regular sleeping pattern are vital parts of this process. You may be prescribed rest after your accident or injury, but this does not mean remaining sedentary unless specifically requested by your doctor. Gentle activity that does not stress the affected area or cause pain will stimulate circulation and promote recovery. Injuries in a localised body part may only require you to rest one area, not your whole body. You can amend your training routine and regain fitness by working on the non-affected areas. Over time, you should regain fitness by strengthening the weakened muscles caused by your accident or injury. Start small and work up to increase endurance. Dynamic, active stretching alongside cardio and resistance training will help you regain your entire range of motion. The key is to schedule a progressive return to full training—pushing yourself (within reason) and working hard but not hard enough to cause further injury or pain. For those with a severe brain or spinal injury, you may need to relearn skills and find new ways of doing things you did before, and you may require help from a range of specialists to aid your recovery. In particular, physiotherapy focuses on helping your strength, mobility, and fitness and may be undertaken alongside other forms of rehabilitation like occupational therapy, speech-language therapy, and pain treatment. When a road accident causes a severe injury, you may be able to seek compensation through specialist lawyers for the injuries caused and to cover the costs of long-term rehabilitation and treatment, specialist equipment, or adapting your home. Other options for those struggling to pay for their treatment are charities such as the Queen Elizabeth's Foundation for Disabled People and disabilityrightsuk.org/ which offer a range of mobility services designed to get you back to your desired fitness. Page Reference If you quote information from this page in your work, then the reference for this page is: HOWARD, M. (2013) Regaining Fitness after a Road Accident [WWW] Available from: https://www.brianmac.co.uk/articles/article121.htm [Accessed About the Author Matthew Howard is a freelance writer.