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Conditions We Treat  /  Car Accident & Whiplash

Neck & Back

Car Accident and Whiplash Treatment in Bakersfield

Neck pain, stiffness and headaches after a car accident often show up hours or days later. Once serious injury has been ruled out, staying active with guided physical therapy helps you recover.

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Yes, physical therapy helps whiplash and other car accident injuries. Guidelines for whiplash recommend staying active and starting gentle, guided exercise early, rather than resting in a neck collar. Physical therapy helps you move safely, ease pain and headaches, and get back to driving, work and daily life. At ARI Physical Therapy in Bakersfield, we treat patients after auto accidents, one-on-one.

Does this sound like you?

✓Neck pain or stiffness that started after a crash, sometimes a day or two later
✓Headaches at the base of the skull
✓Pain across the shoulders or upper back
✓Trouble turning your head to check blind spots while driving
✓Low back pain after the accident
✓Feeling dizzy, or finding it hard to concentrate

What whiplash is

In a collision, especially from behind, the head and neck are thrown back and forth faster than the muscles can react. That can strain the muscles, ligaments and joints of the neck and upper back. Symptoms often build over the first day or two, which is why many people feel fine at the scene and sore the next morning.

Most people with whiplash recover. Keeping gently active, understanding what’s happening, and having a clear plan all make recovery smoother.

What treatment at ARI looks like

1
A one-on-one evaluation

Your first visit takes about 45 to 60 minutes. We go through how the accident happened and your symptoms since, check your neck, back and shoulders, and screen for anything that needs a doctor first.

2
Easing pain, restoring motion

Gentle movement, hands-on treatment and practical advice for sleeping, sitting and driving, so you can keep moving without flaring things up.

3
Strength and return to normal

Progressive exercises for the neck, upper back and core, and a gradual return to work, exercise and driving, with a home program between visits.

No referral needed to start. In California, you can see a physical therapist directly for up to 12 visits or 45 days, whichever comes first. Some insurance plans still require a referral for coverage; call us at (661) 282-8584 and we'll help you check.

When to see a doctor or go to the ER first

Go to an emergency room right away if you have numbness, tingling or weakness in your arms or legs, can’t turn your head, lost consciousness, or have trouble with balance, speech or vision after an accident.

See a doctor before starting therapy if you have:

  • Severe neck pain, or pain right over the bones of the spine
  • You are 65 or older and the accident was significant
  • Headaches that get worse, or you feel confused, drowsy or keep vomiting
  • You were in a high-speed crash, a rollover, or were thrown from the vehicle

Why patients choose ARI

Care at ARI is always one-on-one and in person with a licensed physical therapist at our Bakersfield clinic: 8200 Stockdale Hwy, Suite B2, in the Town & Country Village center next to Trader Joe's. Our clinic director, Deepa Konnur, PT, MPT, OCS, is a board-certified Orthopedic Certified Specialist. We accept most private insurance plans and Medicare, and we have staff who speak Spanish and Hindi.

Car accident and whiplash FAQs

Once a doctor has ruled out a serious injury such as a fracture, starting guided movement and exercise sooner is generally better than waiting for the pain to go away on its own.
For whiplash without a fracture, guidelines generally advise against a soft collar. Gentle movement helps recovery more than keeping the neck still.
It's common. Strained muscles and joints often stiffen and become more painful over the first 24 to 48 hours.
In California you can see a physical therapist directly for up to 12 visits or 45 days. Some insurance plans, including auto insurance claims, may require a doctor's referral for coverage, so call us at (661) 282-8584 and we'll help you check.
Yes. Headaches at the base of the skull are one of the most common symptoms after whiplash, and treating the neck often helps them.

Common questions

Ready to feel better?

Talk to a licensed physical therapist at ARI, one-on-one. Request an evaluation and we'll get back to you, usually within one business day.

Request an EvaluationCall (661) 282-8584

Sources

  1. Neck Pain: Revision 2017. Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy (APTA clinical practice guideline), 2017.
  2. Neck Sprains and Strains. OrthoInfo, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.
  3. Neck Injuries and Disorders. MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine.

This page is general information, not a diagnosis. If you have symptoms, a licensed clinician should evaluate you.

Clinically reviewed by Deepa Konnur, PT, MPT, OCS, board-certified Orthopedic Certified Specialist · Reviewed September 2026