Expert: Scott F. Gillman, DC, DACBSP - 6/27/2008

Question
  I am a 17 year old female. On 4/16/08 I got into a roll over automobile accident. I was life-flighted to a hospital in Cleveland, Ohio and went through a couple CAT scans. I ended up with compression fractures in vertebrae T-1 through T-6, a C-2 body fracture, and transvertebral body fractures in T-3 and T-4. I was in a Minerva neck/back brace for 6 weeks, then a hard Miami J collar for 3 weeks, and currently I am in a soft cervical collar for 2 weeks. I hardly have any pain in my neck, however; my upper back tends to get extremely sore after about an hour of standing with no back support. I am athletic and was in good shape when the accident happened, I eat healthy and get a sufficient amount of rest. I am concerned about my limitations as to what I can do after I get this soft collar off. When can I start running and lifting weights again? When will I be able to start playing contact sports? I also have plans to go on vacation in late July where I plan to be boating, jet skiing, and participating in other water sports. Because of my injuries, will I have to limit my amount of activity on this vacation? Or will I not be able to do any of these activities at all? I appreciate you taking the time to answer these, thank you!

Answer
Kelly,

Simply, you can re-enter your sports when your body feels able to and when you have regained the function you need to do the sport.   When you feel able is up to you.   How much function you have or don't have can only be assessed by a doctor examining and testing you.   I cannot do this over the internet.   If you have good range of motion, strength, and functional ability, e.g., can swing a racquet, lift weights, and shoot hoops, then go do it!  If your bones are all healed up, then odds are you are only dealing with the soft-tissue aftermath.  Get some soft tissue work by a chiropractor skilled in Active Myofascial Release techniques and/or Graston Technique (www.grastontechnique.com).  

'Hope this helps.

Dr. G