Car Accident Physical Therapy in Provo & Orem
Pain after a car accident can make everything harder, from turning your head while driving to getting a full night of sleep. At Bushnell Physical Therapy, we help people recover from car accident injuries with one-on-one care from experienced physical therapists in Provo and Orem.
Whether your symptoms started right after the collision or showed up days later, we’ll evaluate what’s going on, build a treatment plan around your injuries and goals, and help you get back to normal activities.
Schedule Your Evaluation · Provo: (801) 370-9981 · Orem: (801) 226-0599
Common Injuries We Treat After a Car Accident
The sudden forces of a collision can strain muscles, ligaments, and joints throughout the body. Our therapists treat a wide range of accident-related injuries, including:
- Whiplash: Sudden back-and-forth movement of the neck, particularly common in rear-end collisions, can cause neck pain, stiffness, headaches, and limited neck movement.
- Neck pain and stiffness: Aching, stiffness, or pain with movement that can make it difficult to sit, stand, or sleep comfortably.
- Back pain: The forces involved in a collision can contribute to back discomfort, stiffness, and pain with movement.
- Shoulder pain: Pain from whiplash and other neck injuries can extend into the shoulders, upper back, or arms
- Headaches: Headaches are a common symptom of whiplash and other neck injuries.
- Muscle strains and sprains: A strain affects a muscle or tendon, while a sprain involves a ligament. These injuries can result from sudden forces, twisting, or being thrown against a seatbelt.
- Reduced range of motion: Pain and swelling can cause you to move differently or avoid certain movements, which can lead to continued stiffness.
- Weakness and difficulty moving normally: Muscle weakness and limited mobility can make everyday activities more difficult.
When Should You See a Physical Therapist After a Car Accident?
You don’t need to wait a set number of days, and you don’t need to wait until pain becomes severe. Consider scheduling an evaluation if you notice:
- Neck, back, or shoulder pain that hasn’t gone away
- Stiffness or reduced range of motion
- Headaches that started after the accident
- Weakness or difficulty with normal movements
- Pain that gets worse with work, driving, exercise, or sleep
- Symptoms that are getting worse instead of better
Why symptoms don’t always show up right away
Many people feel relatively fine right after a collision and notice pain later. Adrenaline and the stress of the accident can temporarily mask discomfort. As your body settles, pain and stiffness may become more noticeable in the hours or days that follow. If your symptoms appeared days or even weeks later, that doesn’t mean physical therapy is no longer an option.
When to see a doctor first
If you have significant pain or other concerning symptoms after a collision, seek appropriate medical evaluation. Neck symptoms after an accident can have multiple causes, and a healthcare professional may need to rule out more serious injuries. A physician may recommend diagnostic testing or other care before or alongside physical therapy.
How Physical Therapy Can Help After a Car Accident
The goal of car accident physical therapy isn’t just short-term pain relief. It’s to restore the strength, flexibility, mobility, and function you need to get back to work, exercise, driving, and daily life. Every Bushnell treatment plan follows our Three R’s approach.
Reset: Reduce pain and restore movement
We start by calming irritated tissues, easing muscle tension, and improving joint mobility. This phase uses hands-on care such as manual therapy, joint mobilization, soft tissue work, trigger point dry needling, Astym, and gentle mobility exercises.
Retrain: Build strength and movement control
Once pain begins to improve, treatment progresses toward strengthening and improving how your body moves. Therapeutic exercises, stabilization exercises, postural training, and movement retraining help you rebuild strength and control.
Restore: Return to your normal activities
The final phase focuses on returning to the activities that matter to you, such as work, exercise, sports, and household tasks. The goal is to help you become more independent with your recovery, supported by a customized home exercise program.
What to Expect From Car Accident Physical Therapy
Your initial evaluation
Your first visit is a one-on-one evaluation with a licensed physical therapist. We’ll talk about the accident, your symptoms, your medical history, and what’s been hard to do since the collision. Then we’ll assess:
- Range of motion
- Strength
- Posture and movement patterns
- Neurological function
- Which movements or activities increase your symptoms
Your therapist uses this evaluation to develop a personalized treatment plan based on your condition and goals.
Personalized treatment for your recovery
No two accidents cause the same injuries, so no two treatment plans look the same. Your plan is based on your specific injuries, symptoms, and recovery goals, and may include:
- Manual therapy and joint mobilization
- Soft tissue techniques, including Astym and cupping
- Trigger point dry needling
- Therapeutic and strengthening exercises
- Mobility and stretching exercises
- Postural and movement retraining
- A customized home exercise program
Your therapist monitors your progress and adjusts your treatment as your strength, mobility, and function improve. The number of visits you’ll need depends on your injury, how long symptoms have been present, and how your body responds to treatment.
Why Choose Bushnell Physical Therapy?
Highly qualified therapists: Our Physical Therapists and Physical Therapist Assistants are trained and certified in treatment methods including Trigger Point Dry Needling, Astym, and Myofascial Decompression (cupping).
One-on-one care: Hands-on therapy with one-on-one attention from your therapist.
Personalized treatment plans: Your plan is built around your condition and goals, not a one-size-fits-all approach.
Science-backed care: We blend cutting-edge science with tried-and-true methods that work.
Convenient locations: Welcoming clinics in Provo and Orem, open Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m., with Saturday morning hours in Orem.
What Our Customers Are Saying
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Frequently Asked Questions
How soon after a car accident should I start physical therapy?
There’s no set waiting period. How long you should wait to start physical therapy after a car accident could depend on if you have pain, stiffness, or limited movement right away or after some time has passed. An evaluation can help determine whether you’re ready for physical therapy.
Is it too late to start physical therapy if my pain started later?
No. Symptoms that show up days or weeks after an accident can still be evaluated and treated.
How many physical therapy visits will I need?
There’s no standard number of visits. Treatment length depends on the type and severity of your injury, your progress, your goals, and how your body responds to treatment.
Schedule Car Accident Physical Therapy
Don’t let pain, stiffness, or limited mobility from a car accident keep you from the activities you enjoy. Our therapists will evaluate your symptoms and build a personalized plan to help you recover.
Provo: 524 W 300 N, Suite 201 · (801) 370-9981
Orem: 980 E 800 N, Suite 103 · (801) 226-0599