Car Accident Physiotherapy in Saskatoon
If you’ve been in a collision, the first couple of weeks are usually a mix of sore, stiff, and not knowing what you’re allowed to do yet.
At Vigour Physiotherapy, I help people in Saskatoon recover from motor vehicle injuries, and I bill SGI directly for approved treatment, by combining:
a thorough physiotherapy assessment
early movement that settles symptoms instead of stirring them up
a graded return to driving, work, and training
clear, on-time reporting so your SGI claim keeps moving
hands-on treatment when it helps settle symptoms
Most collision injuries settle well. The job is to keep you moving while they do.
SGI claims billed directly, 1-on-1 care, exercises sent to you after your visit
Whiplash and collision injuries usually do settle, and they tend to settle faster when you start moving early and build back in a planned way. Your first visit is a 60-minute one-on-one assessment and treatment at my clinic in City Park, Saskatoon.
When should you see a physiotherapist after a car accident?
Book an assessment if any of this sounds like you:
your neck or back stiffened up in the day or two after the crash
you’ve started getting headaches since the collision
shoulder checking hurts or feels blocked
you’re sore in more places than you expected to be
you were told to rest and see, and nothing is changing
you’re worried about getting back to work, driving, or lifting
you have an SGI claim and want to get treatment started
If anything in your assessment needs a doctor’s input, I’ll tell you and put it in writing.
Injuries I see after a collision
If any of the following sounds familiar, I can most likely help:
whiplash-type neck pain and stiffness
headaches that start at the base of the skull
mid-back and rib soreness from the seatbelt
low back pain that showed up a day or two later
shoulder pain from bracing against the wheel
knee or hip pain from contact with the dash
If you’re not sure what you’ve done, that’s completely normal after a crash. Sorting it out is part of the assessment.
How SGI coverage works for physiotherapy
Most people have never made an injury claim before, so here’s the short version:
report the collision to SGI, and they open a claim and give you a claim number
starting early helps — gentle movement usually settles collision symptoms sooner than waiting it out
bring your claim number to your first visit and I can bill SGI directly
I look after the reporting SGI asks for, so your claim keeps moving
approved treatment is billed to SGI directly, not to you
I can bill SGI once your claim is open, so if you haven’t reported the collision yet, that’s the place to start. SGI makes the coverage decisions, not me. What I look after is the paperwork and keeping you in the loop, so you always know where things stand.
What your first appointment looks like
In your assessment, I’ll:
Get the full story of the collision, what hurt first, and what has changed since
Screen for red flags and decide if anything needs referral
Test how you move through the positions that have bothered you since the crash
Create a plan you understand:
what to do now
what to modify temporarily (and what you don’t need to avoid)
what we’re building toward over the next few weeks
You’ll leave with a clear next step, not just “come back and we’ll see.”
How I treat collision injuries (what you can expect)
Treatment is individualized, but typically includes:
education + reassurance (what’s normal after a crash, and what isn’t)
early gentle movement (to settle symptoms and stop things seizing up)
strength and control for neck, mid-back, and shoulders
a graded return to driving, work, and training
hands-on treatment when helpful (to calm symptoms and improve tolerance)
dry needling / IMS when appropriate (optional — not mandatory, not magic)
The aim is a steady return to normal, with the reporting handled properly along the way.
Common patterns I see after a crash
People don’t fit neatly into boxes, but these are common patterns:
the delayed onset (fine at the scene, stiff and sore two days later)
the shoulder check (neck rotation that hurts or feels blocked)
the headache pattern (starting at the base of the skull, often worse late in the day)
the nervous driver (the symptoms settle before the confidence does)
the early finish (treatment stops once the pain eases, before you’re back to full activity)
Whatever the pattern, the plan is usually the same: settle it down → rebuild tolerance → get you back to driving, work, and training.
Nick Allard, MPT: Your Car Accident Physiotherapist
“I’m Nick Allard, a Saskatoon physiotherapist and the owner of Vigour Physiotherapy. I see a lot of people in the weeks after a collision, when they’re sore, a bit rattled, and not sure what they’re allowed to do. My approach is straightforward: work out what’s been injured, get you moving again safely, and build back to driving, work, and training. I’ll also keep the SGI reporting up to date so your claim isn’t the thing holding up your recovery. Read more about Nick here!”
Direct Billing to your insurance, 1-on-1 assessments and treatment, exercises sent to you following your visit, no waitlist
Car Accident Physiotherapy FAQs
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Generally the sooner the better, once you’ve been medically cleared. Early, gentle movement tends to settle collision symptoms faster than waiting to see whether they go away on their own.
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You need an open claim before I can bill SGI. You’re welcome to book and be seen as a regular private appointment in the meantime, but SGI billing can only start once the claim is open. If you haven’t reported the collision yet, start there.
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SGI funds physiotherapy for eligible auto injury claims and runs its own authorization process, so how much is covered is their decision rather than mine. I send the reports they ask for and I’ll always tell you where your claim stands.
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Your claim number and adjuster’s name if you have them, a short list of your symptoms and roughly when each one started, and clothing you can move in.
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Usually not. Most collision injuries involve muscle, joint, and nerve tissue that doesn’t show up on an X-ray. Clear imaging is good news. It doesn’t mean your symptoms aren’t real or that nothing can be done about them.
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It varies a lot. Many people improve substantially over a few weeks, and some take longer, particularly if symptoms were severe early on or there’s a lot of stiffness. I’ll give you an honest estimate once I’ve assessed you.
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Usually yes, with some changes. Complete rest tends to stiffen things up. We’ll sort out which movements are fine right now, which ones to park for a few weeks, and how to build back from there.
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Yes. Workplace injuries follow a different process from auto claims, and unlike SGI you don’t need a claim number to get started. Bring whatever details you have and I’ll take it from there.
Ready to get moving again?
If you’ve been in a collision and you’re not sure what to do next, book an assessment. We’ll work out what’s been injured, get you moving, and sort out the SGI side as we go.
Last updated November 2026 · About Nick Allard, MPT →
This page is for general information and is not medical advice. If you have severe or worsening symptoms, significant weakness or numbness, changes to your vision or speech, confusion or memory problems after a head impact, or chest pain or trouble breathing, seek urgent medical care.
Conveniently Located in Saskatoon, SK
610 Queen Street #102
Saskatoon, SK
S7K 0M8
Directly across from City Hospital in the City Park neighbourhood