Car accident injuries

Everyone should see a doctor or nurse practitioner after a crash, before physiotherapy, to check for a broken bone or other serious injury.

We start with how the crash happened: where you were sitting, the direction of impact, and whether you hit your head. We ask what your doctor or nurse practitioner found, and how your symptoms have changed.

Then we examine the neck, back and shoulders: how far you can move, where it hurts, your strength, and the nerves to your arms and legs. If you hit your head, or feel dizzy or foggy, we also look for signs of a concussion. A concussion can happen in a crash even without a blow to the head.

Early treatment focuses on getting you moving. For a neck sprain, that means gentle neck movement, unless a doctor or nurse practitioner has told you to wear a collar. We add activity in small steps, keeping your pain no more than a little worse. Treatment often includes:

• Gentle exercises: to bring back how far you can turn and tilt your head and bend your back.
• Hands-on treatment: gentle mobilizing of stiff joints and work on sore muscles in the neck, upper back and shoulders.
• Strength and posture work: for the deep neck muscles, upper back and shoulders, built up as pain settles.
• Massage therapy: registered massage therapists treat sore, tight muscles in the neck, shoulders and back. See massage therapy.
• Headache and dizziness care: treatment for the neck when it adds to headaches, and balance exercises if dizziness lingers.

Driving. We test how far you can turn your head to check blind spots, and how fast your foot moves to the brake. When you are ready to drive is a decision to make with a doctor or nurse practitioner. Some people feel nervous in a car after a crash; tell them if it does not ease.

Work. We look at what your job asks of your neck and back, such as desk time, driving or lifting. Then we help you plan what you can manage now, and build up from there.

Sport. Skiing, biking and running come back in steps. Walking and easy cardio come first, then more load, speed and rough terrain as your symptoms allow. If you also had a concussion, wait for the all-clear from a doctor or nurse practitioner before skiing or biking, then follow a step-by-step return. See concussion rehabilitation.

Book an assessment if a crash, on the Sea to Sky Highway or closer to home, has left you with pain, stiffness or headaches. You can also come in if an old crash injury still flares up on long drives.

Go to the emergency department right away, or call 911, if any of these happen:

• neck pain with new weakness, numbness or tingling in the arms or legs
• a headache that gets worse
• vomiting, confusion or growing drowsiness
• chest pain or trouble breathing
• loss of bladder or bowel control
• belly pain, or bruising across the belly from the seat belt