Whiplash Treatment Edmonton
Neck pain after a collision, treated on the Alberta protocol.
What this is
Whiplash is a neck injury caused by the head being thrown rapidly forward and backward, and its symptoms often do not appear until hours or days after the collision. In Alberta, whiplash associated disorders are eligible for pre-approved physiotherapy under the Diagnostic and Treatment Protocols when treatment starts within the protocol timeframe, and Trust Care bills your auto insurer directly.
What whiplash actually is
Whiplash is an injury to the soft tissue of the neck caused by the head being thrown rapidly forward and backward, most often in a rear-end collision. The neck muscles, ligaments and joints are strained beyond their normal range. In Alberta it is classified as a Whiplash Associated Disorder, or WAD, and it is one of the injuries covered by the province’s Diagnostic and Treatment Protocols.
The single most common mistake after a collision is waiting to see whether it settles. Whiplash symptoms frequently appear hours or days after the accident, because the initial adrenaline masks them. Symptoms include:
- Neck pain and stiffness, often worse the next morning
- Headaches, commonly starting at the base of the skull
- Pain across the shoulders and upper back
- Reduced ability to turn the head
- Dizziness, or a feeling of being unsteady
- Pins and needles or numbness into the arms
Why starting early matters in Alberta
Alberta’s Diagnostic and Treatment Protocols allow pre-approved physiotherapy for whiplash associated disorders when treatment begins within the protocol timeframe after the accident. Starting late can mean the pre-approved pathway is no longer available and the claim becomes more complicated. It also tends to mean a longer recovery, because the neck has spent weeks guarding and stiffening.
Neck pain after a collision? Whiplash symptoms often start days later. Alberta protocols have a timeframe.
Trust Care Physiotherapy, north Edmonton
How whiplash is treated
Treatment starts with an assessment to establish the grade of the injury and to rule out anything that needs medical review. From there the plan usually combines hands-on treatment to restore neck movement, a graded exercise programme to rebuild the deep neck and shoulder blade muscles, and advice on sleep position, driving and screen work. Where headaches or dizziness are part of the picture, vestibular assessment may be added.
More about this service
The claim side
Trust Care bills your auto insurer directly under Section B accident benefits, so covered treatment costs you nothing up front. We confirm your eligibility, complete the protocol paperwork with you, and report progress to the insurer.
Not sure this is the right starting point?
Call the clinic and we will tell you what the first appointment would look like, and what it would cost.
Common questions
A few things people often ask before their first visit.
How long after a car accident does whiplash appear?
Whiplash symptoms commonly appear hours or days after the collision rather than immediately, because adrenaline masks them at the time. Neck pain and stiffness are often worst the morning after.
Is whiplash treatment covered after a car accident in Alberta?
Yes. Under Alberta's Diagnostic and Treatment Protocols, whiplash associated disorders are eligible for pre-approved physiotherapy when treatment begins within the protocol timeframe. Trust Care bills your auto insurer directly under Section B.
Do I need a referral for whiplash physiotherapy?
No. You can book an assessment directly, and in Alberta you do not need a physician referral to start physiotherapy after a motor vehicle accident.
How long does whiplash take to recover from?
Most whiplash associated disorders improve over several weeks with active treatment, though recovery time varies with the grade of injury and how early treatment starts. Your physiotherapist will give you a realistic timeframe after the assessment.
Book your initial assessment
We are at 14415 Miller Blvd NW in North Edmonton, with parking on site and direct billing to 40+ insurers.