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Whiplash

Whiplash Overview

Whiplash, also called neck sprain or neck strain, is injury to the neck. Whiplash symptoms occur following damage to the neck. In whiplash, the intervertebral joints (located between vertebrae), discs, ligaments, cervical muscles, and nerve roots may become damaged.

Whiplash happens in motor vehicle accidents, sporting activities, accidental falls, and assault.
- The term whiplash was first used in 1928, and despite its replacement by synonyms (such as acceleration flexion-extension neck injury and soft tissue cervical hyperextension injury), it continues to be used to describe this common soft tissue neck injury. Your doctor may use the more specific terms of cervical sprain, cervical strain, or hyperextension injury.

Whiplash Causes

The most frequent cause of whiplash is a car accident. Surprisingly, the speed of the cars involved in the accident or the amount of physical damage to the car may not relate to the intensity of neck injury. Speeds as low as 15 miles per hour can produce enough energy to cause whiplash in a passenger in your car, whether or not they are wearing a seat belt.

Other common causes of whiplash include contact sport injuries and blows to the head from a falling object or someone punching you.
Repetitive stress injuries or chronic strain involving the neck (such as using your neck to hold the phone) are a common, nonacute cause.
Child abuse, particularly the shaking of a child, can also result in this injury as well as in more serious injuries to the child's brain or spinal cord.

Whiplash Symptoms

These signs and symptoms may occur immediately or minutes to hours after the initial injury. The sooner after the injury that symptoms develop, the greater the chance of serious damage.

Neck pain
Neck swelling
Tenderness along the back of your neck
Muscle spasms (in the side or back of your neck)
Difficulty moving your neck around
Headache
Pain shooting from your neck into either shoulder or arm

When to Seek Medical Care

The best time to call your doctor is immediately after the injury. If you cannot determine whether an emergency department visit is needed for your symptoms, then contact your doctor and ask for advice. If your doctor is unavailable at the time of your injury, then you should call 911 for transport to the emergency department. The risks associated with a possible neck injury are far too great to attempt to diagnose and treat yourself. You should see a doctor and have your neck braced to keep your head from moving during transport.

Depending on the severity of your car accident, emergency medical personnel may take you to an emergency department immediately. In this case, a cervical collar will be placed around your neck, and your body will be strapped to a long, firm board to prevent any movements until a doctor sees you.

With less severe car accidents, sports injuries, or other accidental injuries, emergency medical services may or may not be involved in your prehospital care. You should call 911 emergency medical services if you develop any of the following symptoms shortly after your injury: