If you have been involved in a motor vehicle accident, chances are you will be referred for massage therapy by your primary health care provider. It is important to know what options are available to you.

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Before massage treatment can begin, clients involved in a motor vehicle accident must complete the following paperwork, and undergo an assessment by a ‘Primary Healthcare Provider’, such as Physician, Physiotherapist, or Chiropractor. 

 

Furthermore, and prior to completing forms and undergoing assessment, clients must have already reported their accident to their motor vehicle insurance company within 10 days of the date of the accident.

An assessment to diagnose client’s injury as either a Sprain/Strain, or Whiplash Associated Disorder (WAD Injury), must be completed by a physician, physiotherapist, or chiropractor, acting as your Primary Healthcare Provider. This type of assessment is outside the scope of practice of a massage therapist and therefore cannot be completed at Effect Therapy. 

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Your injury will be classified by your Primary Healthcare Provider (physiotherapist, chiropractor, or physician) as a sprain/strain or WAD (whiplash-associated disorder) 1, WAD 2, WAD 3, or WAD 4 depending on the injury. WAD 1 and WAD 2 are most common for any injuries involving the neck, mid back, or lower back. 

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Under the Alberta Legislation for “In protocol WAD 1” you are entitled to 10 visits to use within 90 days after the accident; for “In protocol WAD 2” you are entitled to 21 visits to use within 90 days of the accident.  After 21 visits, or 90 days, you are considered “Out of Protocol”.

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In most cases, for “Within Protocol” cases, we can directly bill your motor vehicle insurance company for your treatments within the first 90 days of your accident.  After your 10-21 visits, or when you have reached your 90 days, the billing process changes.  At this time, it will be your own responsibility to bill your insurance company (should they choose to provide you with more coverage).

Massage treatment for WAD I & II injuries is different in that we are working to achieve specific goals relating to soft-tissue rehabilitation and increased pain-free range of motion (PFROM), while observing varying levels of contraindications WAD I & II injuries present. This is all done while assessing progress over a period of regularly scheduled treatments. 

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Massage treatments relating to MVA clients, should be booked in advance and within a frequency to allow for both effective treatment and evaluation.