Whiplash is an injury to the soft tissues of the neck from a sudden jerking or "whipping" of the head. This type of motion strains the muscles and ligaments of the neck beyond their normal range of motion.
See also: Neck pain
ConsiderationsWhen a vehicle stops suddenly in a crash or is hit from behind, the seat belt will keep a person's body from being thrown forward. But the head may snap forward, then backward, causing a whiplash injury.
CausesIn addition to car accidents, whiplash can be caused by Roller Coasters and other amusement park rides, sports injuries, or being punched or shaken. (Whiplash is one of the hallmarks of shaken baby syndrome.)
SymptomsYou may feel pain and stiffness in your neck for the first few days after a whiplash injury. You may feel better early on, but the pain and stiffness may come back several days later. This symptom can last for months or years.
The discomfort you feel may involve surrounding muscle groups in your head, chest, shoulders, and arms.
First AidSteps to take care of your whiplash injury include:
You may want to reduce your activity only for the first couple of days. Then slowly resume your usual activities.
Do not perform activities that involve heavy lifting or twisting of your back or neck for the first 6 weeks after the pain begins. After 2 - 3 weeks, slowly begin exercising again. A physical therapist can help you decide when to begin stretching and strengthening exercises and how to do them.
Other steps that may help your neck pain improve are:
Call your doctor if:
Headrests in your car can reduce the severity of neck pain from a car accident. Make sure that the headrest is positioned properly for your height.
If you do get whiplash, learn proper stretching exercises once your neck has healed. This reduces the chance that neck pain or stiffness will come back.
ReferencesHudgins TH, Shahban L, Alleva JT. Cervial sprain or strain. In: Frontera, WR, Silver JK, Rizzo TD Jr, eds. Essentials of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2008:chap 5.
Ronthal M. Arm and neck pain. In: Bradley WG, Daroff RB, Fenichel GM, Jankovic J, eds. Neurology in Clinical Practice. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Butterworth-Heinemann; 2008:chap 32.
Verhagen AP, Scholten-Peeters GG, van Wingaarden S, de Bie R, Bierma-Zeinstra SMA. Conservative treatments for whiplash. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2007 Apr 18;(2):CD003338.
Devereaux M. Neck Pain. Med Clin North Am. 2009;93:273-284.
Reviewed ByReview Date: 06/04/2011
Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington School of Medicine; and C. Benjamin Ma, MD, Assistant Professor, Chief Sports Medicine and Shoulder Service, UCSF Dept. of Orthopaedic Surgery. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
Whiplash is when the soft tissues of the neck are injured by a sudden jerking or "whipping" of the head. This type of motion strains the muscles and ligaments of the neck beyond their normal range of motion.
See also: Neck pain
ConsiderationsWhen a vehicle stops suddenly in a crash or is struck from behind, a seat belt will keep a person's body from being thrown forward. But the head may snap forward, then backward, causing whiplash.
CausesIn addition to car accidents, whiplash can be caused by roller coasters and other amusement park rides, sports injuries, or being punched or shaken. (Whiplash is one of the hallmarks of shaken baby syndrome.)
SymptomsYou may feel pain and stiffness in your neck for the first few days following a whiplash injury. Then you feel better, but the pain and stiffness may come back several days later. This symptom can last for months or years.
The discomfort you feel may involve surrounding muscle groups in your head, chest, shoulders, and arms.
First AidCall your doctor if:
Headrests in your car can reduce the severity of neck pain from a car accident. Make sure that the headrest is positioned properly for your height.
If you do get whiplash, learn proper stretching exercises once your neck has healed. This reduces the chance that neck pain or stiffness will come back.
ReferencesVillafuerte J. Whiplash. In: Ferri FF, ed. Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2009. 1st ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Mosby Elsevier;2009:section 1.
Evans RW, Wilberger JE, Bhatia S. Traumatic disorders. In: Goetz CG, ed. Textbook of Clinical Neurology. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier;2007:chap 51.
Verhagen AP, Scholten-Peeters GG, van Wingaarden S, de Bie R, Bierma-Zeinstra SMA. Conservative treatments for whiplash. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2007 Apr 18;(2):CD003338.
Devereaux M. Neck Pain. Med Clin North Am. 2009;93:273-284.
A whiplash Compensation claim is all down to how serious the whiplash is (this is how it affects the neck and back), who's fault the whiplash is. And also if the person has a job which the whiplash may affect.
What is the average whiplash settlement
Whiplash - comics - was created in 1990.
Whiplash - band - was created in 1984.
Robbie Whiplash is 5' 7".
The duration of Whiplash - film - is 1.52 hours.
Robert Tudawali has: Played Marbuck in "Jedda" in 1955. Played Emu Foot in "Dust in the Sun" in 1958. Played Kogarah in "Whiplash" in 1960. Played Kuraba in "Whiplash" in 1960. Played Roonga in "Whiplash" in 1960. Played Dalgowlie in "Whiplash" in 1960. Played Native Boy in "Whiplash" in 1960. Played Kuanspa in "Whiplash" in 1960. Played Mundaru in "Whiplash" in 1960.
Whiplash the Cowboy Monkey was born in 1987.
Whiplash - video game - happened in 2003.
Whiplash - film - was created on 1948-12-24.
Whiplash - album - was created on 1997-02-25.
About 1,000,000 whiplash injuries occur in the United States every year.