The dictionary defines it as an injury resulting from a sudden whipping movement of the neck, causing rapid acceleration-deceleration to the head and neck.
Whiplash is soft tissue neck injury that occurs from rapid flexion/extension of the neck.
Whiplash associated disorders (WAD) are often referred to as pain of unclear origin since, by definition, afflicted patients present with symptoms that cannot be identified by imaging or electrophysiological techniques.
Occasionally, disc herniation or skeletal injury of the spine may exist in addition to the soft tissue injury that cannot be captured on MRI.
Thousands of individuals in the USA suffer whiplash injury every year.
Automobile accidents are the most common cause of whiplash injuries. 90% of victims recover fully within the first year. Most symptoms resolve within a few months after the injury.
1 to 10% of all whiplash victims are estimated to suffer the long-term effects of whiplash injury with chronic pain and loss of function.