Whiplash Injury
- Whiplash is a neck injury due to forceful, rapid back-and-forth movement of the neck, like the cracking of a whip.
- The term “whiplash injury” describes damage to both the bone structures and soft tissues, while “whiplash associated disorders” describes a more severe and chronic condition.
- Whiplash is commonly caused by rear-end car accidents.
- But whiplash can also result from sports accidents, physical abuse, and other types of traumas, such as a fall.
- Whiplash may be called a neck sprain or strain, but these terms also include other types of neck injuries.
Symptoms
Signs and symptoms of whiplash usually develop within days of the injury, and may include:
- Neck pain and stiffness
- Worsening of pain with neck movement
- Loss of range of motion in the neck
- Headaches, most often starting at the base of the skull
- Tenderness or pain in the shoulder, upper back or arms
- Tingling or numbness in the arms
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
Some people also have:
- Blurred vision
- Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
- Sleep disturbances
- Irritability
- Difficulty concentrating
- Memory problems
- Depression
Causes
- More recent studies investigating high-speed cameras and sophisticated crash dummies have determined that after the rear impact the lower cervical vertebrae (lower bones in the neck) are forced into a position of hyperextension while the upper cervical vertebrae (upper bones in the neck) are in a hyper flexed position.
- This leads to an abnormal S-shape in the cervical spine after the rear impact that is different from the normal motion.
- It is thought that this abnormal motion causes damage to the soft tissues that hold the cervical vertebrae together (ligaments, facet capsules, muscles).
- A whiplash injury may result from:
- Auto accidents
- Physical abuse or assault
- Contact sports; football tackles and other sports-related collisions can sometimes cause whiplash.
Diagnosis and Treatments
Diagnosis
Examination
Image Testing
- X-rays
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging
- Computerized tomography
Treatment
The goals of whiplash treatment are to:
- Control pain
- Restore normal range of motion in your neck
- Get you back to your normal activities
Others include:
- Foam Collars
- Pain management techniques
- Physical Therapy