What is a Whiplash?
Whiplash is a kind of neck injury that happens when the ligaments and tissues in the neck are suddenly stretched. It can cause pain not only in the neck area but also in the shoulders, arms and head. Whiplash is a common neck injury associate during car accidents.
During a car accident especially during a rear end collision, the car suddenly stops which forces the neck muscles to be forcefully pushed forward. After the sudden stop, the passenger or the driver recovers and the neck muscles jerk back to the original position. These sudden movements of the neck muscles cannot be prevented by seat belts. The result is a whiplash neck injury.
A whiplash is a minor injury compared to other neck injuries. The symptoms are usually pain in the neck and surrounding areas, stiff neck and inability to move or rotate head. When a whiplash occurs, the muscles are allowed time to recuperate and the pain is managed by prescription of pain relievers.