What is Whiplash?
- 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.