Whiplash After a Car Accident
The most common motor vehicle accident injury — and one that responds well to early, structured treatment.
Understanding whiplash
Whiplash is a cervical spine injury caused by the rapid acceleration-deceleration forces in a motor vehicle accident. It is the single most common presentation after a car accident in NSW. Symptoms often have a delayed onset of 24 to 72 hours, which means you may feel fine immediately after the accident and wake up the next morning unable to turn your head. Early assessment and a structured treatment plan are the fastest path to full recovery.
Common symptoms
Symptoms can take hours or days to appear after a crash. If you notice any of these, it's worth being assessed.
We assess the severity of your whiplash, document the clinical findings for your CTP claim, and build a treatment plan tailored to your presentation. Most whiplash injuries respond well to physiotherapy with graded exercise progression. Where symptoms become persistent, we coordinate psychology and exercise physiology to address the broader impact on your daily life and work capacity. We handle the paperwork so you can focus on recovery.
Treatment approach
- 1CTP medical assessment and Certificate of Fitness
- 2Physiotherapy for manual therapy and graded neck exercises
- 3Progressive return-to-activity program
- 4Psychology referral if pain becomes chronic or affects mood
- 5Exercise physiology for reconditioning and strength
- 6Ongoing review and treatment plan adjustments
If you have been in a car accident and are experiencing neck pain, stiffness, or headaches — even if symptoms appeared days after the crash — you should see a CTP-experienced doctor. Early intervention leads to better outcomes and avoids the complications that come with untreated whiplash.
Not an emergency? Book an assessment. If symptoms are severe or worsening, call 000.
Frequently asked questions
Ready to get started?
Book an appointment and take the first step toward recovery.