Injuries after a car accident most often involve the neck (whiplash) and back, with pain, stiffness and headaches that may appear hours or days later. Some people also notice dizziness or concussion symptoms. An Ontario clinical guideline for traffic injuries recommends education, exercise and multimodal care, such as hands-on treatment combined with exercise, for neck pain and associated disorders including whiplash. McKelvie Physiotherapy accepts motor vehicle accident claims, and because vestibular rehabilitation is our specialty, we can also assess dizziness after an accident.
At a glance
- Common injuries
- Whiplash (neck pain and stiffness), back pain, headaches, and sometimes dizziness or concussion symptoms
- Recommended care
- Education, exercise and multimodal care, as recommended by the Ontario OPTIMa traffic-injury guideline
- Claims
- Motor vehicle accident (MIG) claims accepted; MIG assessments can be booked online or by phone
- Dizzy after the accident?
- Vestibular rehabilitation is our specialty, so we can assess dizziness and balance too
Common injuries after a car accident
The most common injury after a collision is whiplash — a strain of the neck caused by the sudden back-and-forth movement of the head. Other common problems include:
- Neck pain and stiffness, which may start hours or days later
- Headaches, often starting at the base of the skull
- Back, shoulder or arm pain
- Dizziness, imbalance or concussion symptoms
- Trouble concentrating or sleeping
See a doctor first if you have
Severe or worsening neck pain, numbness or weakness in the arms or legs, a head injury with confusion, vomiting or loss of consciousness, or dizziness with neurological symptoms. These need urgent medical assessment before physiotherapy.
How physiotherapy helps
For neck pain and associated disorders after a traffic injury, the Ontario OPTIMa guideline recommends education, exercise and multimodal care — hands-on treatment combined with exercise (Côté et al., 2016). Exercise and manual therapy are also recommended treatments for many types of neck pain (Blanpied et al., 2017).
Your plan may include:
- Education and reassurance — what to expect and how to stay active as you recover
- Exercise — restoring neck and back movement, strength and confidence
- Hands-on manual therapy — easing pain and stiffness
- Vestibular rehabilitation — if you’re dizzy or off-balance, using our infrared goggle assessment to find out why
Assess
A one-on-one assessment of your neck, back and — if you’re dizzy — your balance system.
Treat
Education, exercise and hands-on care, following the Ontario traffic-injury guideline.
Return to life
Progressive exercise to get you back to work, driving and the activities you enjoy.
Why choose McKelvie Physiotherapy after a car accident?
- Motor vehicle accident (MIG) claims accepted — book an MIG assessment online or call us.
- Neck, back and dizziness under one roof — vestibular rehabilitation is our specialty.
- One-on-one care in private rooms — longer appointments, never rushed or double-booked.
- A team of registered physiotherapists with training in manual therapy and concussion management.
- No referral needed.
Sources
- Management of neck pain and associated disorders: A clinical practice guideline from the Ontario Protocol for Traffic Injury Management (OPTIMa) Collaboration. European Spine Journal (Côté P, et al.), 2016.
- Neck Pain: Revision 2017 (Clinical Practice Guidelines). Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy (Blanpied PR, et al.), 2017.