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weight lifting with neck injury?

kookla33
kookla33 Posts: 234
edited September 2024 in Food and Nutrition
I threw my neck out over the weekend and am gradually getting my range of motion back. It's not the first time I've done it. My neck and shoulders are often out of whack due to whiplash from a car accident.

I really miss doing weights and was thinking to do some light weights today, but I don't know if I will aggravate my injury.

Any thoughts?

Replies

  • chgudnitz
    chgudnitz Posts: 4,079
    Weight lifting with a neck injury is a really really really bad idea. Depending on what the actual injury is you could do some significant damage to yourself. Give yourself some rest and heal first. Then again, that's just my opinion...
  • kookla33
    kookla33 Posts: 234
    That makes sense. I think I will just do lower body weights and stick to the neck exercises my physical therapist gave me.
    Thanks.
  • arewethereyet
    arewethereyet Posts: 18,702 Member
    how I got back into weight lifting after my car accident was to go to physical therapy. the trained therapist showed me great exercises to build up strength and stretches for range of motion.

    if you have an old injury that is flaring up, a visit to your ortho is probably a good idea.

    hope you feel better!!
  • kookla33
    kookla33 Posts: 234
    I have the printout of exercises my physical therapist gave me after my accident. I just haven't made time to do them regularly, and I can feel the difference. I get stiff a lot faster, and injure myself easier. Sometimes it seems like another thing to add to my to-do list, but then I realize it's a lot worse if I let it go and then I can't function or move. It's better to prevent it from ever happening.
  • FireRox21
    FireRox21 Posts: 424 Member
    Be extra super careful when exercising with a neck injury!!!! I have severe rheumatoid arthritis and all of my exercising is from swimming. I have the RA in my thoracic vertebrae in my back. I did too many laps of butterfly and tore my latisimus, rhombus (?), and some of the supraspinatus muscles in my neck/back. Super painful!!! I couldn't turn my head or look up for 2 weeks. The doctor ordered 6 weeks of physical therapy, but my insurance does not cover that, so I was on my own. I did not do a SINGLE upper body exercise for 6 weeks, only lower body drills and LOTS of kicking in the pool. Neck injuries, if not babied, take a very long time to heal.

    If you do find yourself getting very stiff, ice the area and use very gentle massage to ease the pain.
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