By Nick Rinard MPT, Cert MDT
24 Sep, 2026
Clinical Case of the Week
exercise, Low Back Pain, MDT, Motor Vehicle Accident, MVA, neck pain, Nick Rinard, Nick Rinard physical therapy, pain-free, Physical Therapy, Portland Oregon, results, treatment
If you’re still in pain more than 6 weeks after normal “healing” time for MVA trauma, it is not too late for physical therapy to help.
Why Can Pain Continue After Healing?
As you know from the last Clinical Conversation update, healing tissue begins forming and changing in the first several weeks after trauma. If pain and stiffness continue, the injured tissues may still benefit from further remodeling and appropriately dosed movement and loading.
How Physical Therapy Helps Remodel Tissue
Tight or painful tissue can continue to adapt over time through targeted, mechanical, dosed loading. Physical therapy uses specific exercises and hands-on techniques as needed to gradually improve mobility, tolerance to load, and function.
Could a Joint Derangement Be Contributing?
Another possible source of persistent pain after an MVA is an underlying mechanical problem that has not yet been identified. Our MDT method uses repeated movement testing and the patient’s response to help identify mechanical patterns, including joint derangements, and guide treatment toward movements that reduce symptoms and improve function.
So, even if your accident happened months ago and your body has already gone through its initial healing process, it is not too late for physical therapy.
Come to Nick Rinard Physical Therapy to determine whether restricted tissue, a mechanical joint problem, or another musculoskeletal issue may still be contributing to your lasting pain.
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By Erick Severo
18 Aug, 2026
Physical Therapy Tips
exercise, insurance, MDT, Motor Vehicle Accident, MVA, Nick Rinard, Nick Rinard physical therapy, pain, pain-free, Physical Therapy, Portland Oregon, results, treatment
A car accident can happen in seconds, but the soreness, stiffness, headaches, and difficulty moving that follow can linger much longer.
One of the tricky things about motor vehicle accidents is that pain doesn’t always show up immediately. Adrenaline and stress can mask symptoms initially, and it’s common to notice increased neck pain, back pain, headaches, stiffness, or difficulty with everyday activities in the hours or days following an accident.
At Nick Rinard Physical Therapy, we help patients recover after motor vehicle accidents and get back to moving, working, exercising, and living with confidence.
Common Problems After a Car Accident
Even relatively low-speed accidents can place significant stress on the body. Some of the most common symptoms we see include:
- Neck pain and stiffness
- Whiplash-related symptoms
- Low or mid-back pain
- Headaches
- Shoulder pain
- Difficulty turning your head while driving
- Pain with sitting or sleeping
- Muscle tightness and soreness
- Reduced mobility
- Difficulty returning to work, exercise, or normal activities
These symptoms can look different for every person, which is why your treatment shouldn’t be one-size-fits-all.
How Physical Therapy Can Help
Your first visit starts with a thorough evaluation to understand how your symptoms respond to movement, what may be contributing to your pain, and which movements help you feel and move better.
From there, we develop an individualized treatment plan that may include hands-on treatment, specific exercises, mobility work, strengthening, and education to help you manage your symptoms between visits.
Our goal isn’t simply to make you feel better temporarily. We want to help you regain your normal movement and function while giving you the tools to continue progressing on your own.
Don’t Wait for Pain to Become Your “New Normal”
After an accident, it can be tempting to assume the soreness will eventually disappear on its own. Sometimes it does but if pain, stiffness, headaches, or difficulty with normal activities are sticking around, having the problem evaluated can help you understand what’s happening and what you can do about it.
Whether your accident happened recently or you’ve been dealing with symptoms for a while, we’re happy to help determine the next step.
Injured in a Motor Vehicle Accident?
Nick Rinard Physical Therapy is accepting patients following motor vehicle accidents.
If you have questions about starting physical therapy, scheduling an evaluation, or using your auto insurance benefits for treatment, give our office a call. Our team can help you navigate the process and determine your next steps.
Call Nick Rinard Physical Therapy at (503) 244-6232 or email at help@rinardpt.com to schedule an evaluation.
Already know someone who was recently in an accident? Feel free to forward this message to them – we’d be happy to help.
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Nick Rinard Physical Therapy can get you back to living “a life free of pain.”
“I came in with major chronic pain and injuries from a car accident.
With care, patience, and always a great sense of humor – Nick Rinard Physical Therapy help me back to a life free of pain.
Through every twist and turn on my road to recovery, Nick help me stay informed, comfortable with the treatment, and motivated to keep going.
Thank you so much!”
Autumn
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By Megan Plante, DPT
29 Aug, 2014
Physical Therapy Tips
car accident, debate, education, healing, MVA, Physical Therapy, rest, ROM, training
This is a question that seems to be in debate. At our clinic, we advise our patients to come in for treatment as soon as possible when experiencing pain in order for the fastest results. I have experienced push-back from other health care practioners who want the person to “rest” for 4-6 weeks before starting therapy. The problem with this? There are many things a person can be doing immediately after the MVA to facilitate healing and prevent dysfunction. All too often, we see people 6 months or longer after the MVA. If the patient has not been given anything to work on for exercises at home, the picture is this: limited, painful movement of the spine or joint, global weakness, and poor posture that becomes painful if corrected.
What does therapy look like in the first few weeks after an MVA?
- Initiate gentle range of motion exercise to prevent loss of movement
- Manual techniques including passive range of motion and soft tissue mobilization to promote blood flow and healing.
- Ultrasound modalities that decrease inflammation/swelling and promote tissue healing</li class=”rinardptli”>
- Education and training on how to prevent dysfunction
Here at Nick Rinard Physical Therapy, we see a lot of patients who have suffered an MVA. In fact, we see it so much we have a protocol for it that is very successful for treatment. Don’t wait! Start healing and feeling better today!
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