Car Accident Injury
Whiplash Treatment
In Kent, WA.
Whiplash is a rapid back-and-forth motion of the neck, most often caused by rear-end car collisions. It can strain neck muscles and ligaments even at low speeds, and symptoms sometimes don't appear until a day or two after the accident.
Overview
Understanding Whiplash
Whiplash is a rapid back-and-forth motion of the neck, most often caused by rear-end car collisions. It can strain neck muscles and ligaments even at low speeds, and symptoms sometimes don't appear until a day or two after the accident. Our evaluation determines the specific cause before recommending adjustments, soft tissue therapy, or rehabilitative exercise.
Common Signs
Signs Of Whiplash To Watch For
Neck Pain & Stiffness
Reduced Range of Motion
Headaches
Shoulder or Arm Pain
Common Causes
What Causes Whiplash?
Rear-End Collisions
The most common cause — the head snaps backward then forward faster than the neck's muscles and ligaments can brace for it, even in a low-speed impact.
Sports & Contact Injuries
Tackles, checks, and other sudden collisions in contact sports can produce the same rapid neck motion as a car accident.
Slips, Trips & Falls
A hard, unexpected fall can jolt the neck through the same whip-like motion, especially when the head strikes something on the way down.
Our Approach
How We Treat Whiplash
Clinical Exam & History
We start with a hands-on exam of neck range of motion, muscle tension, and joint function, plus a history of how and when the injury happened.
Imaging Review When Needed
If your exam findings warrant it, we review prior imaging or coordinate a referral rather than guessing at what's underneath the symptoms.
A Plan Built Around Your Exam
Your treatment plan — adjustments, soft tissue work, rehabilitative exercise, or a combination — follows directly from what we find, not a one-size-fits-all script.
Don't Wait For Whiplash Symptoms To "Go Away On Their Own"
Inflammation and muscle guarding from whiplash can take a day or two to fully develop, so feeling fine right after a collision doesn't rule it out. Getting evaluated soon after any accident — even a minor one — establishes a clear baseline for your treatment plan, and creates the kind of documentation your attorney or insurance adjuster may ask for if you're pursuing a personal injury claim.
Whiplash Treatment FAQ
Because symptoms can be delayed, we recommend an exam as soon as possible after any collision, even if you feel fine initially.
Yes — it's common for stiffness and pain to develop 24–72 hours after the initial impact.
Not directly — X-rays show bone, not the muscle and ligament strain typical of whiplash. Our exam focuses on range of motion, muscle tension, and joint function, with imaging used selectively when your exam findings call for it.
Yes — we handle PIP billing coordination directly and can share records with your attorney or insurance adjuster on request as your personal injury claim moves forward.
There isn't a fixed number — your plan is based on your exam findings and how your symptoms respond to care over time, not a preset package.
Related Conditions
Also Commonly Treated Together
Dealing with whiplash?
Call 253-631-7933 or request an appointment — we'll start with an exam to understand what's causing your symptoms.