Patient Story: Full Recovery After a Serious Car Accident

Priya, a 34-year-old accountant from Puchong, was rear-ended on the Federal Highway during her morning commute. The collision left her with whiplash, a fractured left collarbone, and bruised ribs. After six weeks in a sling and bed rest, she was referred to Kinesio Rehab by her orthopaedic surgeon. By that point, she could barely lift her left arm above shoulder height and had constant neck stiffness that made desk work unbearable.

The Challenge

Priya's injuries affected multiple areas at once. Her neck was stiff and painful from the whiplash, with limited rotation to the left. Her left shoulder had lost significant range of motion after weeks of immobilisation in the sling. She also reported sharp pain along her ribcage whenever she took a deep breath or coughed. Beyond the physical problems, Priya was anxious about driving again and had trouble sleeping due to pain when lying on her side.

She had already used up most of her medical leave and was under pressure to return to work, but sitting at her desk for more than 30 minutes triggered headaches and neck pain.

The Treatment Plan

Her physiotherapist prioritised the areas that most affected her daily function. In the first two weeks, treatment focused on gentle cervical mobilisation and soft tissue release for the neck, combined with breathing exercises to address the rib pain and restore normal breathing patterns. Priya attended sessions three times a week initially.

From week three, shoulder rehabilitation began with pendulum exercises and assisted range-of-motion work, progressing to resistance band strengthening by week six. Her physiotherapist also set up an ergonomic workstation plan — adjusting her monitor height, recommending a lumbar support cushion, and scheduling movement breaks every 45 minutes.

By month two, Priya was doing active strengthening for her neck and shoulder, including isometric neck exercises, scapular retractions, and lightweight overhead presses. Sessions reduced to twice a week.

The Outcome

Priya returned to full-time office work at week eight. By month three, she had regained full shoulder range of motion and could sit through a full workday without headaches. Her rib pain resolved completely by week six. She started driving again at month two, initially on quieter roads before building up to her highway commute.

At her final session in month four, Priya reported that she felt physically back to where she was before the accident. She continues to do the neck and shoulder exercises at home three times a week as a maintenance routine.