Common Questions About Physical Therapy After a Car Accident

If you’ve been in a motor vehicle accident (MVA) in the Twin Cities, getting prompt and effective care is crucial. At PRO Therapy, we understand that navigating recovery can be stressful, especially when dealing with insurance and lingering aches. To help you feel more comfortable and informed, we’ve compiled answers to the most common questions we hear about physical therapy after a car crash.

What are the most common injuries you treat after a car accident?

Our physical therapists frequently treat a range of injuries stemming from the sudden impact of a crash. The most prevalent condition is Whiplash, which involves neck pain, stiffness, and headaches. We also commonly address general back pain (both upper and lower), shoulder injuries that often result from the seatbelt restraint or impact, and symptoms related to mild concussion such as dizziness and balance issues. Beyond these, we treat general soft tissue injuries like sprains and strains throughout the body.

I don’t feel much pain right now. Should I still get checked out?

Yes, it is highly recommended. Immediately following a crash, your body releases a rush of adrenaline, which acts as a natural painkiller and can effectively mask injury symptoms. Injuries like whiplash and soft tissue trauma often take 24–72 hours to fully manifest. A physical therapy evaluation can identify subtle alignment or movement issues before they turn into chronic pain and stiffness, ensuring you start the healing process at the right time.

What if my accident was weeks or months ago and I just now have pain?

It is never too late to seek help for pain or movement limitations that originated from a past motor vehicle accident. Chronic pain often develops because the body found a way to compensate for the initial injury, leading to long-term strain on other joints and muscles. Our specialized therapists can assess these compensatory patterns and create a program to address the underlying issue, helping you finally find lasting relief.

Will you only focus on the spot that hurts, or my whole body?

A comprehensive physical therapy assessment always looks at the body as a whole, not just the site of pain. A car accident is a full-body trauma, and an injury in your neck, for example, often causes stiffness or weakness that leads to compensatory strain and pain in your shoulders, back, or hips. By assessing your posture, movement patterns, and muscle balance, we ensure that we treat the root cause of your discomfort, not just the symptom.

What’s the difference between a strained muscle and a sprain?

While both terms describe damage to soft tissue, they refer to different structures. A strain is an injury to a muscle or a tendon (which connects muscle to bone), often caused by overstretching or tearing. A sprain, however, is an injury to a ligament (which connects bone to bone), typically occurring when the joint is forced into an unnatural position, such as with a whiplash injury in the neck. Both require physical therapy to restore strength and stability.

How long does recovery take and how many sessions will I need?

The length of recovery is highly individual and depends greatly on the severity of your injuries and your commitment to the treatment plan. While it varies, a general estimate for the treatment of mild to moderate soft tissue injuries resulting from an MVA is typically 6–12 weeks of consistent therapy. During your initial evaluation, your PRO Therapy provider will discuss a more personalized estimate based on your specific condition and recovery goals.

Will physical therapy be painful?

Our approach is to work with your pain, not against it. Your physical therapist’s initial goal will be to use gentle manual therapy and modalities to actively reduce your pain and inflammation. While the therapeutic exercises required to strengthen and stabilize your body may feel challenging, they are always controlled and should not cause sharp, radiating, or intense pain. We adjust every session to ensure your comfort and progress safely toward full recovery.

Ready to start your recovery journey in the Twin Cities?

If you have sustained an injury in a car accident and are in the Northeast Minneapolis or Coon Rapids areas, don’t delay care. PRO Therapy will handle the complexities of auto insurance billing so you can focus entirely on getting better.