What is whiplash?

A Whiplash is an injury to the neck caused by a rapid movement of the head backward, forward, or side-to-side. Whether a result of a auto wreck, sport or your job, neck injuries warrant a thorough physician check-up. The hidden danger with neck injuries is that underlying problems may take years to develop. Too often people don't seek treatment until more serious issues develop, like degenerative arthritis in the injured area, to herniated disks. Even after whiplash victims settle their insurance claims, roughly 40% - 55% of previous neck injury sufferers report that they still suffer with symptoms two years later.

In the past, a typical whiplash injury where no bones were broken, were hard to prove from legal standpoint. Soft tissue injuries (injuries to the muscles, ligaments and tendons) do not show up on x-rays, and insurance companies would deny coverage to the injured party. Modern, sophisticated imaging devices (CAT Scans, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, and Ultra-Sound) may now show these soft tissue injuries, and therefore insurance companies cover most whiplash injury claims.

When no bones were broken and the head did not impact the windshield, typical symptoms will follow. 92% complain of neck pain, which usually starts within two hours, or up to two days after the accident. This is often the result of neck muscle spasms that react to either muscle tears or excessive movement of joints from the damage done to the ligaments. The muscles typically tighten in an effort to support the weight of the head.

Almost 60% of those suffering from whiplash complain of headaches. The pain may be on one side or both. These headaches are often the result of tightened, tensed neck muscles working to keep the head stable. They are similar to everyday "tension headaches" as they are often felt behind the eyes.

Radicular pain is often described as pain radiating down the back of the neck into the shoulder blade or arm area. This may also be the result of tensed muscles, or even worse, a disk or nerve injury. Muscle tears are often described as burning pain, prickling or tingling. More severe disk or nerve injury may cause sharp, shooting pain with certain movements, that may travel into the arms, hand and fingers. Disc and nerve injury symptoms are normally relieved by holding your hand over your head.

What factors increase risk of whiplash injury during an auto accident?


* Vehicle mass. When both vichles are equal in size, an 8 mph impact produces 2 times the force of gravity (2-G's) acceleration of the car, and a 5-G acceleration of the head
* Headrest/head restraint position. This can make an injury much worse if too low, and even at the right height, it must be close enough to catch the head in time (about 2 inches). A seat that is reclined too far will increase this distance, as will poor posture and driving habits if leaning forward. Some older vehicles (trucks, vans) do not have head restraints, adding insult to injury.
* Forward position of the head at impact. If turned to the side it can only move about half as far as a straightforward position, but leads to other types of neck injuries. Therefore, if your head was turned during the impact, all of the G forces are localized to one side of the spine, substantially increasing the severity of injury
* The use of the seatbelt and shoulder harness. Yes, the chance of whiplash is higher, but it's much better than the other option. . . death.
* A rigid, non-collapsing seatback.
* Ligamentous instability (joint loosening) after the accident.
* A rear-direction impact (being struck from behind)
* Non-awareness of the impact.
* Limited range of motion and neurological symptoms after the crash.
* Women and children seem to get injured more seriously than men in collisions. Possibly due to a smaller neck. They may also sit too close to the steering wheel & airbag, or have an improperly fitting shoulder harnesses. Children's spinal injury problems may go undetected, so it is VERY important to have them checked, even if they claim to feel okay.
* Headaches or neck injury or pain prior to the crash. Pre-existing health problems such as arthritis and degenerative disk disease add to the severity of the injuries.
* Age. As the body becomes older, muscles may become weaker and less flexible, ligaments less pliable, and the joints may have a decrese in range of motion.