Conditions We Treat
Massage for Whiplash & Post-Whiplash Recovery in NYC
Neck stiffness, headaches, and lingering pain after a car accident or sudden impact can all signal whiplash. Our licensed medical massage therapists help clients recover safely—reducing muscle tension, restoring mobility, and improving alignment throughout the body.
- Available in FiDi & Midtown West – open 7 days a week
Causes
What’s Going On With Whiplash?
- Studies estimate that 15–40% of people experience chronic or recurrent symptoms after a whiplash injury (Physio-Pedia, 2023).
- Whiplash occurs when the head is rapidly forced backward and then forward, straining muscles, ligaments, tendons, and fascia in the neck and upper back (sometimes with side-to-side forces as well).
- Common causes include car accidents, sports injuries, or falls. Symptoms may include stiffness, dizziness, headaches, and pain radiating into the shoulders or arms.
- Long-term compensation patterns can lead to chronic neck and shoulder pain, headaches, TMJ dysfunction, or back pain. About half recover fully, while the remaining 50% split between mild and moderate-to-severe ongoing symptoms (Physio-Pedia, 2023).
At Bodyworks DW, we understand that whiplash affects the whole body—not just the neck. Our therapists use advanced techniques taught in our Head, Neck & Jaw CEU course, including specialized work on the longus colli, a deep stabilizer that often becomes chronically restricted after whiplash. Combined with myofascial, deep tissue, and movement-retraining methods, this approach helps restore mobility, reduce pain, and rebuild confidence in movement.
Related conditions: See also our Neck Pain, Upper Back Pain, and TMJ Pain pages.
- Safety First After Trauma: If you’ve experienced a medium- or high-velocity whiplash accident, it’s essential to have cervical spine imaging (such as X-rays or CT scans) to rule out fractures or spinal instability before beginning neck-focused massage work. The Canadian C-Spine Rule (PMC, 2019) advises deferring cervical range-of-motion testing and manual treatment until fractures and instability are excluded clinically or radiographically. For this reason, we will not perform local neck massage within the first six weeks after a serious accident unless imaging confirms it’s safe. This precaution prevents the rare but serious risk of bone fragments injuring nerves or the spinal cord. (Supporting references: AAFP, 2020; NYSCA Cervical Practice Guidelines)
How we treat
How Bodyworks DW Treats Whiplash
Whiplash can chronically lock the deep stabilizing muscles like longus colli, which require advanced training to release safely and effectively. Anatomy Plate (Gray’s, 1918)
Whole-Body Evaluation
We begin by assessing how your neck, shoulders, and ribcage move together, identifying compensations that have developed since the injury. Establishing an accurate timeline helps determine the safest and most effective starting point for treatment.
Targeted Deep Tissue & Myofascial Work for Immediate Relief
Each session begins by opening the longer fascial chains through the front of the body—particularly the hip flexors and diaphragm—to help the neck release naturally. We then progress to localized work on the posterior and anterior neck, including the longus colli and hyoid system. Pressure is always adapted to your injury stage and comfort level.
Progressive Plan That Builds on Each Session
As symptoms improve, we integrate the entire kinetic chain—shoulders, spine, hips, and feet—to restore structural balance and retrain efficient movement. This Rolfing-inspired approach ensures each joint plane supports the next for lasting recovery.
What to Expect
A Progressive Plan
Session 1
Calm overactive neck and shoulder muscles, improve circulation, and reduce protective guarding to provide immediate relief.
Sessions 2–4
Expand work through the ribcage, spine, and hips to restore postural balance and reduce strain on the neck.
Sessions 5–8+
Integrate full-body mechanics—linking the feet, knees, hips, ribs, shoulders, neck, and jaw—to create confident, pain-free movement and prevent future flare-ups.
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Care
Home Care That Helps Between Sessions
We’ll teach you simple at-home techniques—such as controlled neck mobility drills, posture resets, and breathing exercises—to calm the nervous system and keep tissues flexible between sessions.
For example, here’s a helpful video (when in later recovery stages, do not perform immediately after an accident)
Testimonial
What Our Clients Say
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Frequently Asked Questions
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How soon after a car accident can I get massage?
Massage can often begin within the first few days to a week after injury depending on severity, once any serious medical concerns are ruled out. Our therapists match each session to your stage of healing—starting with gentle, supportive work and progressing as your body allows. However, for serious impacts involving high-velocity motion or head trauma, we require medical clearance with imaging before local neck work can begin.
Do I need a doctor’s release for whiplash massage?
Yes–if your accident was high velocity and occured within the last 6 weeks (see safety note above). This should include x-rays to make sure that there are no fractures or bone chips that could potentially damage nerves if muscle guarding is released through massage.
What makes Bodyworks DW’s approach different?
We treat both the local injury and the global compensations that develop afterward—integrating work from the feet to the jaw to rebalance the body. Many of our therapists have advanced training through our Head, Neck & Jaw CEU course, allowing them to perform precise, effective work on structures like the hyoids and longus colli that few massage therapists address.
How many sessions will I need?
Most clients begin noticing improvement within 1–3 sessions, with substantial recovery achieved after 3–6 sessions.
Are there precautions for whiplash massage?
Yes — recent injuries, acute inflammation, fever/illness, or medications affecting tissue integrity require caution. In addition, a recent high velocity impact accident will require that you have been cleared with imaging (see safety note above).
Full list: NYS Massage Therapy Precautions