Weeks 1–2
Pain
Calm the pain down.
Hands-on work settles the strained neck and the headaches, and calms a nervous system still on alert, starting your very first visit.
What We Treat
Auto accident injury treatment in Murray.
The stiff neck that showed up a day or two after the crash. The headaches, the tight shoulders, the sleep that won’t come. Whiplash is treatable, and it starts with a cause-first evaluation, not a guess.
Sound Familiar?
Does this sound like you?
- A stiff, aching neck that didn’t hit until a day or two after the crash
- Headaches that start at the base of your skull
- Checking your blind spot now takes your whole upper body
- Tight shoulders and a mid-back that just won’t loosen up
- Sleep that won’t come because you can’t get comfortable
- Feeling foggy, wired, or on edge since the accident
Two or more? Keep reading.
Why It Happens
A crash injury is a symptom. Something causes it.
Even a low-speed crash whips your head back and forth faster than your muscles can brace. And the damage is almost never just one thing. It’s usually some mix of culprits: strained neck muscles and ligaments from that sudden snap. Irritated joints in the neck and upper back. A nervous system left on high alert after the shock of impact. And headaches referred up from the base of the skull.
Here’s the part that catches people off guard: whiplash symptoms often show up a day or two later, once the adrenaline wears off. It takes a real, cause-first evaluation to sort out what’s actually driving your pain, and to document it properly. We keep clear records of your injuries and your progress, so your insurance claim has the paperwork it needs while you focus on healing.
The Honest Truth
Whiplash doesn’t fade with the adrenaline. It settles in.
If you keep waiting
- Untreated whiplash can turn into months of neck pain and headaches
- Stiff, guarded muscles pull your posture and mid-back out of line
- Gaps in your care can weaken the injury claim you may need later
If you start this week
- You know the actual cause by the end of visit one
- Hands-on relief starts before you leave the building
- Your injuries are documented from day one, and you get a plan with an endpoint
Nobody regrets starting too early. Every week, someone in our clinic says they regret waiting.
How We Fix It
The same four phases. Built for whiplash.
You’re used to handling things and getting on with it. But a crash isn’t something to shake off. You’ll work one-on-one with a Doctor of Physical Therapy, every visit. Every plan has an endpoint. Here’s what the four phases look like after an accident.
Weeks 2–6
Prime
Get your motion back.
Targeted mobility restores the neck and upper-back motion the crash locked up, so checking your blind spot stops being a whole-body move.
Weeks 6–10
Perform
Make it strong enough to trust.
Progressive strength rebuilds the deep neck and shoulder support that got overwhelmed in the impact.
Weeks 10+
Prevent
Return better than before.
We make sure the pain and headaches are truly gone, with your recovery documented start to finish: that’s the endpoint, not just another appointment.
I had the privilege of receiving physical therapy from Isaac after a car accident, and I couldn’t be happier with the results. I left every appointment feeling a million times better than I did when I walked in. Isaac’s expertise and guidance not only helped me recover but also equipped me with valuable exercises for lifelong well-being. His approach of setting a goal date for treatment was refreshing and kept me motivated. Plus, having Dash, his friendly dog, around made every session even more enjoyable. Thank you, Isaac, for making my recovery a positive and effective journey!
Shared by Nina E. · Auto accident recovery
Week 1: couldn’t turn my head to back out of the driveway
Week 8: driving comfortably, headaches gone
Whiplash
8 weeks
Questions, Answered
What people ask before booking after an accident.
In most cases, care after a car accident is covered, and we make that side easy. We document your injuries and your progress clearly from the first visit, which is exactly what an auto claim needs. You also don’t need a referral to start in Utah. Come in, get evaluated, and we’ll help you sort out the paperwork so you can focus on healing.
It’s worth getting checked, even if you feel fine today. Whiplash symptoms often show up a day or two after the crash, once the adrenaline fades, and small problems are far easier to settle early than after they’ve set in. A Doctor of PT can catch what’s brewing at the evaluation and, just as important, document your condition from the start. There’s no downside to being checked early.
Most patients feel meaningful change within 4-6 visits. A full plan after an accident runs through all four phases, Pain, Prime, Perform, and Prevent, typically over 8-12 weeks, depending on the crash and your symptoms. Either way, you get a plan with an endpoint: you’ll always know which phase you’re in and what’s left, not an open-ended string of appointments.
Book Your Visit
Ready when you are.
Request a time and a real person calls you back, usually within two business hours. No phone tree. No ‘someone will reach out.’ Just a plan.
- Hours Mon, Tue & Thu: 8:00am-6:00pm, Wed: 2:00pm-5:00pm, Fri: 8:00am-1:00pm
- (385) 743-2757 Prefer to talk now? Call us.
- Same-week appointments available
4.9 · 70+ Five-Star reviews
Typical response: under 2 business hours
Step 1 of 5
Request sent.
That’s the hard part done. We’ll call during business hours to lock in your time. Most people are on the schedule same week.
Visit Us
Care this good, this close.
Lodestar Physical Therapy
- 6070 S 1300 E, Ste 102, Murray, UT 84107 (opens in a new tab)
- (385) 743-2757
- Fax: (385) 831-7092
- Frontdesk@lodestarpt.com
- Mon, Tue & Thu: 8:00am-6:00pm, Wed: 2:00pm-5:00pm, Fri: 8:00am-1:00pm