Whiplash After a Car Accident? Here Is How to Start Recovery
Been in a Car Accident? Here Is How CTP Covers Your Physio
You have been rear ended. Your neck is stiff, your back is sore, and you are not sure what to do next. Whiplash and car accident injuries are among the most common reasons patients come to our physio team at PHYZFIT Bexley North and Marrickville — and under NSW CTP (SIRA), your physiotherapy is almost always fully covered. Here is exactly how it works and how to start.
Short Answer
If you have been in a motor vehicle accident in NSW, your physiotherapy is almost always fully covered under CTP (compulsory third party) insurance through SIRA — with no out of pocket cost to you. You can book an initial physio assessment within the first 6 months of the accident without pre approval. For ongoing treatment, your treating physio lodges an Allied Health Treatment Request (AHTR) with the insurer. At PHYZFIT Bexley North and Marrickville we handle the CTP paperwork directly and start treatment the same day. Early physio (within the first 2 to 4 weeks) is linked to better recovery and lower risk of chronic whiplash symptoms.
Below we walk you through what whiplash is, how CTP covers your physio, what the process looks like and how to book in.
What is whiplash?
Whiplash is a soft tissue injury of the neck caused by sudden forward and backward (or sideways) acceleration of the head, most commonly from a rear end car accident. The rapid motion overstretches the muscles, ligaments, joints and nerves of the cervical spine.
Symptoms often develop over the first 24 to 72 hours after the accident, which is why many patients feel "fine" immediately after a crash and then wake up the next morning unable to move their neck. Common symptoms:
- Neck pain and stiffness, worse the morning after the accident
- Reduced range of motion looking up, down or over the shoulder
- Headaches, often starting at the base of the skull
- Upper back and shoulder pain
- Pain, pins and needles or numbness into the arm or hand
- Dizziness, light headedness or feeling off balance
- Jaw pain or clicking (TMJ)
- Difficulty concentrating, sleep disruption, low grade anxiety
- Fatigue beyond what you would expect
Whiplash is graded 0 to 4 using the Quebec Task Force classification. Most whiplash we see is Grade 1 or 2 (pain and stiffness without major neurological signs), which responds very well to early physiotherapy.
How does CTP cover my physio?
CTP (compulsory third party) insurance is the NSW scheme that covers injuries from motor vehicle accidents. Every registered NSW vehicle must have a CTP policy (also called a Green Slip). It covers you whether you were the driver, passenger, pedestrian, cyclist or motorcyclist involved in the accident, regardless of fault.
Here is the simple version of how it works:
- Step 1: You lodge a personal injury claim with the CTP insurer of the at fault vehicle (or your own if single vehicle) within 3 months of the accident
- Step 2: SIRA (State Insurance Regulatory Authority) issues you a claim number
- Step 3: You can access up to the first 6 months of early physio treatment without pre approval — just book in with your claim number
- Step 4: For ongoing treatment past the initial allowance, your physio lodges an Allied Health Treatment Request (AHTR) for the insurer to approve
- Step 5: We invoice the insurer directly at the SIRA fee schedule rate — you pay nothing out of pocket
This is set up to make early physio easy to access, because early intervention is strongly linked to better whiplash outcomes.
No Gap Fee at PHYZFIT
CTP physiotherapy at PHYZFIT Bexley North and Marrickville is fully covered by your CTP insurer. You pay nothing out of pocket. We invoice the insurer at the SIRA fee, handle the AHTR paperwork and progress reports, and communicate with your GP and solicitor if needed.
What to do in the first 7 days after an accident
- See a GP within 24 to 72 hours to document the injury and rule out serious issues
- Report the accident to Police within 28 days (needed for the CTP claim)
- Lodge a personal injury claim with the CTP insurer within 3 months — your GP can help identify the insurer
- Keep moving within comfort. Do not immobilise in a soft collar. Modern evidence strongly supports gentle early movement over rest
- Book your initial physio within 1 to 2 weeks — the early window is where physio makes the biggest difference
- Keep a symptom diary including sleep, pain, headaches, work impact. Useful for both treatment and the claim
- Avoid driving if you feel unsafe — reduced neck rotation makes checking blind spots risky
Been in an accident this week?
Book your initial assessment — we handle the CTP paperwork so you can focus on recovery.
How does PHYZFIT treat whiplash?
Our physio team (Julian De Rosa, Ari Moushis and Sam Nunan) treats whiplash patients every week. Treatment is staged and matched to the severity and timing of your injury.
Week 1 to 3 — Calm phase
- Gentle hands on soft tissue release
- Early range of motion within comfort
- Education, reassurance and pacing advice
- Sleep setup, pillow and workstation modifications
- Headache management strategies
Week 2 to 8 — Restore phase
- Progressive cervical and thoracic mobilisation
- Deep neck flexor retraining with pressure biofeedback
- Dry needling for stubborn tension
- Dizziness and balance work (cervicogenic dizziness is common after whiplash)
- Gradual return to work and driving
Week 6 to 16 — Rebuild phase
- Progressive strengthening of neck, shoulder blade and upper back
- Full return to driving, work and sport
- Long term resilience and flare up management
- Coordination with your GP, specialist or legal team as needed
How long does whiplash take to settle?
- Grade 1 whiplash (pain and stiffness, no neurological signs): 2 to 6 weeks for most patients
- Grade 2 whiplash (pain plus clinical signs like reduced range or muscular tenderness): 6 to 12 weeks
- Grade 3 whiplash (pain plus neurological signs like weakness or reduced reflexes): 12 to 24 weeks with closer medical oversight
- Grade 4 whiplash (fracture or dislocation): managed under specialist care, physio continues through long rehab
Around 50 percent of whiplash patients recover fully by 3 months with the right physio input. Early physiotherapy (started within 2 to 4 weeks of the accident) reduces the risk of chronic symptoms significantly.
⚠ Go to Emergency immediately if you have
- Severe pain that is not controlled with usual pain relief
- New weakness, numbness or tingling spreading in the arms or legs
- Loss of bladder or bowel control
- Severe headache with vomiting, visual changes or confusion
- Difficulty swallowing or speaking
- Loss of consciousness or memory of the accident
Who can access CTP physio?
You are covered by NSW CTP if you were:
- The driver, passenger or pedestrian injured in a motor vehicle accident
- A cyclist or motorcyclist involved in an accident with a motor vehicle
- Injured in a single vehicle accident (claim through your own policy)
- Injured in a multi vehicle accident regardless of fault
The policy covers the first 6 months of early allied health treatment including physiotherapy without pre approval. Ongoing treatment past that is approved via the AHTR process.
We support CTP patients across Bexley, Kingsgrove, Beverly Hills, Bardwell Park, Earlwood, Rockdale, Kogarah, Hurstville, Marrickville, Newtown, Enmore, Dulwich Hill and Petersham.
Frequently asked questions about CTP whiplash physio
Ideally within 1 to 2 weeks. Early physio (started within the first 2 to 4 weeks) is linked to significantly better outcomes and lower risk of chronic symptoms. The CTP scheme is specifically set up to make early access easy.
No. CTP physiotherapy at PHYZFIT is fully covered by your CTP insurer at the SIRA fee schedule. You pay nothing out of pocket for approved treatment.
You can still book a physio assessment to start treatment. We can submit the paperwork once the claim number comes through. Many patients see us before the claim is finalised and it works out fine.
You do not need a GP referral to see a physio in Australia, but you do need to see a GP to document the injury and support your CTP claim. Most patients see both.
CTP schemes differ by state. If your accident was outside NSW, we can still treat you — the claim is lodged through the relevant state scheme and the paperwork is slightly different. Call us and we will walk you through it.
You are still covered. NSW CTP (since the 2017 reforms) covers everyone injured in a motor vehicle accident regardless of fault for the first statutory period, including physiotherapy.
Ready for Us to Help You With Your Pain?
If you have been in a car accident, book your CTP physiotherapy assessment at PHYZFIT Bexley North or Marrickville with Ari Moushis, Sam Nunan or Julian De Rosa. Same day appointments are usually available. We handle the paperwork.
📍 20 Shaw Street, Bexley North 2207
📍 4 Carrington Road, Marrickville 2204 (inside World Gym)
✉ admin@phyzfit.com.au
PHYZFIT Health and Rehab | Bexley North and Marrickville, Sydney | Helping you rebuild trust in your body and live a life without limits.