If any of these questions sound familiar, you may be dealing with ongoing whiplash-related symptoms. At West Henday Physical Therapy, we offer Whiplash Physiotherapy in Edmonton to help reduce pain, improve mobility, and guide you toward recovery safely and steadily.
Whiplash is a soft tissue injury which happens when the neck is forcefully moved back and forth, most commonly from car accidents, falls, or sports impacts. The sudden motion causes strain to muscles, ligaments, and joints in the neck and upper back.
While some people feel symptoms immediately, others may not notice discomfort until hours—or even days—later. That’s why early assessment and care are important.
Whiplash is more than just a stiff neck. It will affect your ability to work, sleep, concentrate, and enjoy your normal activities. Without proper treatment, symptoms may linger or develop into long-term issues.
In many cases, untreated whiplash can lead to chronic neck pain, recurring headaches, poor posture, or reduced quality of movement. The sooner you begin addressing the condition, the better your chances of full recovery.
That’s why we take a balanced approach—focused on comfort today and resilience for the future.
At West Henday Physical Therapy, we recognize that whiplash is a complex injury that will affect multiple areas of the body and impact your ability to focus, sleep, move, or return to work.
We treat a wide range of whiplash-related symptoms and complications, including:
Neck pain, stiffness, and muscle guarding
Reduced range of movement in the neck, shoulders, and upper back
Tension headaches or migraines (often at the base of the skull)
Dizziness, vertigo, or visual tracking difficulty
Jaw pain, clicking, or TMJ dysfunction
Shoulder, scapular, and upper back discomfort
Nerve-related sensations extending from the neck into the arms
Postural misalignment or forward head posture
Cognitive fatigue, difficulty concentrating, or foggy thinking (post-concussion symptoms)
Sleep disturbance and generalized muscle tension
Increased sensitivity to light or sound (in more complex whiplash cases)
If left unaddressed, whiplash will lead to chronic neck dysfunction, recurrent headaches, and movement limitations that affect daily life.
At West Henday Physical Therapy, our treatment plans for whiplash are based on your symptoms, how your body is responding, and what you’re trying to get back to—whether it’s driving comfortably, sleeping better, or returning to physical work.
Here are some of the targeted physiotherapy techniques we use in whiplash recovery:
We use gentle manual pressure to reduce tension in the neck, upper back, and shoulders, helping muscles relax and improving blood flow to speed up healing.
Focused mobilization of the neck’s small joints to restore smoother, pain-free motion in rotation, extension, and flexion.
We guide you through safe, pain-free movement exercises and early-stage strengthening, especially when guarding or spasms are limiting movement.
Exercises that improve neck support by strengthening the deep cervical flexors and postural muscles around the shoulder blades.
We target tight bands and referred pain areas (common in whiplash headaches) to relieve deep muscular pain and improve soft tissue mobility.
If balance or dizziness is present, we use specific drills to retrain coordination and improve your sense of position and movement in space.
If jaw tension or clicking is part of your injury, we apply gentle mobilization and retraining exercises to reduce stress and improve opening mechanics.
In cases of persistent muscle knots or chronic tension, we may incorporate dry needling as part of a broader manual therapy strategy.
If nerve sensitivity or radiating arm symptoms are involved, we use targeted nerve gliding techniques to reduce tension on the nervous system.
We gradually reintroduce daily movement patterns—like driving, lifting, reaching, and looking over your shoulder—so you regain comfort and control in everyday tasks.
We equip you with specific home-based strategies to manage symptoms between sessions, including posture correction, movement pacing, and recovery-friendly habits.
Every whiplash injury is different. At West Henday Physical Therapy, we assess your symptoms, history, and movement patterns to create a plan that supports healing and helps prevent long-term issues.
Our treatment focuses on:
We work with individuals recovering from:
Whether your injury is recent or lingering, Whiplash Physiotherapy in Edmonton can help you move better and feel more in control of your recovery.
After a car accident or sudden neck injury, many people wait to see if symptoms will go away on their own. While some discomfort may ease over time, delaying treatment can allow stiffness, muscle tension, and poor movement habits to set in, making recovery slower and more complicated later on.
At West Henday Physical Therapy, we recommend booking an assessment as soon as possible, even if symptoms seem mild. Early physiotherapy helps:
Even if it’s been weeks or months since your injury, it’s not too late to start. Your plan will always begin with where you are now and move forward at a pace that fits your body.
This depends on your symptoms and how your body responds to treatment. Some individuals feel relief within a few sessions of treatment, while others benefit from a longer-term plan. We’ll give you a clear roadmap after your assessment.
We always work within your comfort level. Some techniques may cause mild soreness, but nothing should feel sharp or overwhelming. Your therapist will check in throughout your session.
Yes. Whether your injury is new or ongoing, we can help reduce symptoms, restore mobility, and support your recovery—no matter how much time has passed.
We’ll equip you with home strategies and exercises to stay ahead of flare-ups. If symptoms return, we’re here for reassessment and follow-up support.
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