Whiplash After a Car Accident: What to Do in the First 72 Hours

You feel "mostly fine" right after the crash — then wake up the next morning barely able to turn your head. That's the classic whiplash story. What you do in the first three days shapes the weeks that follow.

Why symptoms show up late

Whiplash is a rapid back-and-forth strain of the neck's muscles, ligaments and joints. Adrenaline masks pain in the hours after a collision, and inflammation builds gradually — which is why stiffness, headaches and soreness often peak 24–48 hours later. Feeling okay at the scene doesn't mean nothing happened.

The first 72 hours: do this

• Keep moving, gently. Slow, comfortable neck movements several times a day. Research is clear that gentle early movement leads to better recovery than strict rest.
• Use heat or ice for comfort — 10–15 minutes at a time, whichever feels better to you.
• Sleep with support — a pillow that keeps your neck level, not propped sharply up.
• Report your accident to ICBC and get your claim number — treatment for the first 12 weeks is pre-approved, no referral needed.
• Book an assessment early. The sooner a physiotherapist evaluates your neck, the sooner you get a plan — and early treatment is strongly linked to better outcomes.

And avoid this

• Days of total rest. Guarding and immobility let stiffness set in — the opposite of what a recovering neck needs.
• Living in a collar. Soft collars are rarely recommended beyond very short-term comfort.
• "Waiting to see." Weeks of wait-and-see is how acute whiplash becomes persistent pain.

Red flags — seek medical care promptly

Severe or worsening headache, numbness or weakness in your arms, dizziness or trouble balancing, difficulty swallowing or speaking, or memory problems and confusion. These warrant a doctor or emergency department before physiotherapy.

What treatment looks like

Whiplash care at Matrix Rehab typically combines hands-on manual therapy, graded movement and strengthening, and — when useful — massage therapy to settle guarded muscles between physio visits. Your plan is documented for your ICBC claim, and we bill ICBC directly.