What Is Whiplash?

Newsletter & Articles > What Is Whiplash?

Illustration of whiplash injury

Whiplash is a relatively common injury that occurs to a person´s neck following a sudden acceleration-deceleration force, most commonly from motor vehicle accidents. 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.
Fortunately, whiplash is typically not a life threatening injury, but it can lead to a prolonged period of partial disability.

What Causes Whiplash?

Whiplash is most commonly caused by a motor vehicle accident in which the car the person is riding in is not moving, and is struck from a vehicle from behind without notice. It is commonly thought the rear impact causes the head and neck to be forced into hyperextension as the seat pushes the person´s torso forward and the unrestrained head and neck fall backwards. After a short delay, the head and neck then recover and are thrown into a hyper-flexed position.

What Are the Symptoms of Whiplash?

The most common symptoms related to whiplash include:

Neck pain and stiffness

Headache

Should pain and stiffness

Dizziness

Fatigue

Jaw pain

Arm pain

Arm weakness

Visual disturbances

Ringing in the ears

Back pain

How Is Whiplash Diagnosed?

After an accident the patient may be taken to the hospital or a doctor´s office to be examined. The doctor will examine the patient to determine if they have any injuries that require treatment. Based on the symptoms and examination findings, the doctor may place a collar on the neck for additional support. The doctor may also obtain x-rays of the neck to check for more serious injury. The most important first step is to make sure there is no major injury to the neck, head, or the rest of the body requiring immediate treatment.

What Is the Treatment for Whiplash?

The most important issue in the management of whiplash is optimal education of the patient about their injury. This includes information of the cause, potential treatments, and likely outcomes. Patients should understand that this is a real injury, but that nearly all patients have the ability to fully recover. Patients that do not receive this information are much likely to develop the more chronic "whiplash associated disorder."

Related Links

What Is Whiplash? (click here for the full article)