When you live in a place like Tooele County, it isn’t uncommon to commute into the Salt Lake City area for work. While you may love living in a quieter setting, this commute may mean hours in the car every day. Although you may enjoy this time in the car, your everyday commute may be doing more harm than good in relation to your recent accident recovery.
Whether you’ve injured your back or neck, these long commutes and frequent sitting in the car may make it difficult to achieve the relief you’re looking for. In this blog, we’ll explore how sitting in the car can stunt your accident recovery and what you can do to move toward the long-term pain relief you deserve.
How Daily Commuting Impacts Your Healing
If you’ve recently been in a car accident, the last thing you may want to do is get back in the car. However, if you commute to work or school every day, you may not have any other reliable option. While you may be worried about how this time in the car will impact your anxiety levels, it is important to also understand the impact it can have on accident recovery.
Long periods of time sitting in traffic can be especially difficult on your body, especially following whiplash and back and neck injuries. You may experience slower soft tissue healing when you sit for extended periods. Your commute is generally a higher-stress event, which may prevent the proper rest you need for adequate recovery.
Finally, long commutes, especially those between the Tooele and Salt Lake areas, can leave you with fewer hours in the day to perform essential responsibilities. This may result in you choosing to skip out on an hour or two of sleep to get your chores done. However, this can further slow accident recovery, as you need adequate sleep to heal properly.
Sitting vs. Recovery: The Spine Stress You Can’t Ignore
When you are sitting in your car, it may seem like you’re finally getting a moment to sit back and relax a bit. However, the prolonged sitting that comes with regular commuting can put exceptional strain on your already irritated back muscles, joints, and discs. Although rest is essential for recovery, the static sitting during your commute can further complicate matters.
Although it seems restful, the muscles in your back must work constantly to hold your position in the car, especially against frequent vibrations and gravity. Additionally, sitting can put up to 90% more stress on your back, which leads to even more complex problems immediately following your recent accident.
This additional strain, coupled with poor blood flow due to your sedentary state, can lead to muscle atrophy. While it might not seem especially beneficial, some movement through your accident recovery is essential. By sitting in your car for prolonged periods, you put yourself at major risk of muscle atrophy and chronic pain.
Understanding How Posture, Traffic, and Tension Play a Role
Maintaining proper posture, managing tension, and addressing physical stressors during your commute are critical components of your accident recovery. When you’re in a car accident, you may find yourself dealing with spinal misalignment and muscle tension, which may lead to chronic pain if left unaddressed.
Paying close attention to your posture while driving can reduce strain on already irritated tissues, while managing stress can aid in healing and help you restore your lost range of motion. Failing to manage these factors during your commute can lead to the intensifying of your auto accident injuries.
While it can be difficult to maintain proper posture and manage stress and tension during your commute, it is essential that you do your best to stick with these good behaviors. The hard work you put in during your everyday commute can make an exponential difference in your long-term accident recovery.
Adjustments to Reduce Commuter Strain During Accident Recovery
It can be difficult, if not impossible, to cut out your commute. If you have no other option, there are a few changes you can make to reduce strain and discomfort during your accident recovery. These adjustments include:
- Shifting your seat position to an upright 100–110° angle for better spinal alignment.
- Investing in a lumbar support cushion or rolled towel for lower back support.
- Performing gentle neck, shoulder, and hand stretches during your commute.
- Practicing deep breathing when stopped to help reduce anxiety levels and tension.
- Positioning the steering wheel 10-12 inches from the chest to reduce shoulder strain.
- Ensuring your headrest aligns properly with your head to prevent neck injuries.
While these adjustments may not seem like they’ll make a major difference, even the smallest changes can significantly reduce strain and added stress during your accident recovery.
The Importance of Scheduling Chiropractic Care For Accident Recovery
While the adjustments you make to your everyday commuting routine can make a major difference in your accident recovery, there is more you can do to find lasting relief. If you want to ensure your comfort and well-being, it is best to schedule regular appointments with a trusted chiropractic team throughout this process.
Your chiropractor can perform regular assessments of your injuries, help you identify and address delayed injuries, and ensure you’re taking adequate steps toward long-term recovery. Whether you were in a low-speed fender-bender or a major accident, their support will help you address major problems before they lead to chronic pain.
Additionally, with the support of an expert chiropractic team, you can trust that you aren’t just getting the same old treatment options. Instead, they will listen to you when you bring up major concerns and perform a thorough assessment to ensure your treatment plan is tailored to your specific injuries and help you find lasting relief.
Schedule Care with Our Muscle & Joint Team Today
If you were recently in a car accident and are looking for a reliable chiropractic team in the Tooele area, turn to our team at Muscle & Joint Chiropractic. For years, we’ve helped Northern Utah commuters address major car accident injuries and find lasting pain relief. No matter what injury you’re experiencing, our team is confident that we have the tools, training, and expertise to help you recover from them all.
When you are ready to accelerate your accident recovery, contact our team to schedule an appointment.