Whiplash
How do I recover from whiplash after a car accident?
Neck pain and stiffness after a sudden jolt, most often a car crash. Staying active and guided exercise are the core of recovery.
What it feels like
Neck pain and stiffness, often starting hours to a day after a car crash or other sudden jolt, sometimes with headache, shoulder or upper back pain, dizziness, or difficulty concentrating and sleeping.
What is actually happening
Whiplash-associated disorders are injuries to the soft tissues of the neck from a rapid back-and-forth movement. Most people improve, and recovery is helped by staying active and returning to usual activities gradually. Worry, high early pain and stress can slow recovery, which is why clear information is part of treatment.
When to see a doctor urgently
Go to an emergency department, or be assessed by a doctor before treatment, if you cannot turn your head about 45 degrees each way, have numbness, tingling or weakness in the arms or legs, problems with balance or walking, severe headache, confusion, or if the crash was high-speed, a rollover or you were 65 or older. These can be signs of a fracture or spinal cord injury.
How it is assessed
Assessment covers how the injury happened, a screen for the warning signs above, neck movement, neurological testing where there are arm symptoms, and how pain, sleep, work and mood have been affected since the crash.
How it is treated
A clinical practice guideline on neck pain and whiplash-associated disorders recommends education and reassurance, staying active, and exercise, with manual therapy as part of multimodal care for some people. A systematic review found that exercise programmes help people with whiplash and neck pain. Soft collars and prolonged rest are not recommended. Treatment usually progresses neck range of motion and strength, then builds back to work, driving and sport.
What to do first
Keep the neck moving gently within comfort, continue your usual activities as much as you can, and use heat for stiffness. In Ontario, physiotherapy after a car crash may be covered by your auto insurance, so mention it when you book.
Where this is assessed
- Athlete's Care Sports Medicine Centres Yonge & Eglinton · Mon/Wed/Fri · 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM Book at Athlete's Care
- Push Pounds Sports Medicine Downtown Toronto · Tue/Thu · 8:30 AM – 6:30 PM Call Push Pounds to book
- Country Lane Physio Home office & virtual · Sat · By appointment only Message me to book
References
This page is based on the following clinical practice guidelines and research.
- Bussières AE, Stewart G, Al-Zoubi F, et al. The Treatment of Neck Pain-Associated Disorders and Whiplash-Associated Disorders: A Clinical Practice Guideline. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2016;39(8):523-564.e27.
- Southerst D, Nordin MC, Côté P, et al. Is exercise effective for the management of neck pain and associated disorders or whiplash-associated disorders? A systematic review by the Ontario Protocol for Traffic Injury Management (OPTIMa) Collaboration. Spine J. 2016;16(12):1503-1523.
- Blanpied PR, Gross AR, Elliott JM, et al. Neck Pain: Revision 2017. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2017;47(7):A1-A83.