How to optimise your recovery after a whiplash-associated disorder

Whiplash-associated disorder (WAD) is an injury commonly sustained in motor vehicle accidents (MVAs). In fact, it accounts for approximately 75% of all survivable MVA injuries in Australia. So, if I have WAD what should I do? Let’s explore a pathway to optimal recovery.

What is Whiplash-associated Disorder?

WAD occurs when your head moves suddenly in one direction and then back quickly in the other direction. This is known as the acceleration/deceleration mechanism.

WAD is associated with several symptoms. Most commonly WAD can result in neck pain but can also cause headaches, upper limb pain, jaw pain and dizziness.

Luckily, most people will recover well from WAD and many will recover within weeks of the accident. Sometimes some symptoms may take longer to resolve, but there is generally a pathway to recovery.

What does best-practice care look like?

Most people who have been injured in an MVA will consult with their GP, who will often refer you to a physiotherapist or exercise physiologist to assist with your care.

How can the recovery journey be optimised?

Guidelines¹ suggest that people who retain a positive mindset and resume their normal daily activities, as tolerated, may recover faster than those who significantly alter or reduce their activity levels following their injury.

The best way forward is to consult with your treatment provider and to develop strategies to assist in returning to meaningful activity and work duties as appropriate through targeted exercise and education.

What does this look like in practice?

Case study:

The client, a 56 year-old-male, was rear-ended while stopped at a red traffic light and immediately experienced an onset of neck and shoulder pain. His GP diagnosed him with WAD. This was approximately 18 months before he was referred to Guardian Exercise Rehabilitation.

The client had previously received scans and manual therapy but had not demonstrated any significant improvement. He was fearful of performing activities that he used to enjoy and had concerns about his ability to recover after a long period of time.

He was experiencing persistent aching pain in neck and both shoulders with very limited cervical ROM and confidence.

He also experienced poor sleep quality due to persistent pain and headaches.

Recovery program:

Over a 12-week period, the client completed eight supervised gym-based sessions with an Accredited Exercise Physiologist (AEP). He received education on pacing, graded exposure, and evidence-based rehabilitation for WAD.

During the program development session, the AEP established a flare-up management plan, reassured the client about his safety, and encouraged a return to meaningful activity—specifically, triathlon training and competition.

The recovery program also included a structured training schedule incorporating gym-based resistance exercises and aerobic fitness training alongside pain education.

Outcomes:

The client’s cervical movement improved to normal ranges, accompanied by a reduction in neck-related disability from severe to mild, as measured by the Neck Disability Index (NDI).

He reported significantly increased confidence in his ability to self-manage ongoing exercise and participate in their usual meaningful activities.

Within eight weeks of starting the program, he successfully returned to triathlon competition, completing the Noosa Triathlon.

Post-program assessments showed significant improvements in neck and shoulder pain, headaches, and upper-body strength.

In summary, targeted exercise and education play an important part in recovering from a whiplash injury. While early intervention leads to the best outcomes, this case study demonstrates that exercise can be beneficial at any stage of the recovery pathway.

Read more:

• What you need to know about whiplash
• How accredited exercise physiologists help you exercise right
• What can I claim if I’m injured in a car accident?

About Matthew Worland:

Matthew is an Exercise Physiologist and State Manager for Guardian Exercise Rehabilitation in Queensland. Matthew is passionate about assisting people to recover from injuries and illness within personal injury schemes; harnessing the expertise of his multi-disciplinary allied health team to advance rehabilitation practices and optimise client outcomes.

About Guardian Exercise Rehabilitation:

Guardian Exercise Rehabilitation’s allied health clinicians provide evidence-based programs for individuals afflicted with injury or illness, principally under a compensable-injury policy. Through their dedication to evidence-based practice, holistic and client-centred care, and continuous improvement, they have cemented themselves as an industry leader for outcome focussed care.

^1. State Insurance Regulatory Authority . (2024). Australian Clinical Guidelines for Health Professionals Managing People with Whiplash-Associated Disorders, Fourth-Addition. Sydney : SIRA.
^2. Chrcanovic, B., Larsson, J., Malmström, E., Westergren, H., & Häggman-Henrikson, B. (2022). Exercise therapy for whiplash-associated disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Scandinavian Journal of Pain, 22(2), 232-261.

Insurance issued by AAI Limited ABN 48 005 297 807 trading as Suncorp Insurance.