Whiplashis commonly caused by rear-end car crashes. But whiplash also can result from sports accidents, physical abuse and other types of traumas, such as a fall. Whiplash may be called a neck sprain or strain, but these terms also include other types of neck injuries.
Most people with whiplash get better within a few weeks by following a treatment plan that includes pain medicine and exercise. However, some people have long-lasting neck pain and other complications.
See your healthcare professional if you have neck pain or other whiplash symptoms after a car accident, sports injury or other injury. It's important to get a quick diagnosis. This is to rule out broken bones or other damage that can cause or worsen symptoms.
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Whiplash most often occurs when the head is quickly thrown backward and then forward with force. This often happens as a result of a rear-end car crash. This motion can cause damage to the muscles and tissues of the neck.
Whiplash is an injury to your neck. It's caused by your neck bending forcibly forward and then backward, or vice versa. The injury is not well understood. But it often affects the muscles, disks, nerves, and tendons in your neck.
Most whiplash injuries result from a collision that includes sudden acceleration or deceleration. Many whiplash injuries occur when you're involved in a rear-end automobile collision. They also happen as a result of a sports injury, especially during contact sports.
X-ray. Electromagnetic energy beams make images of internal tissues, bones, and organs onto film. But many whiplash injuries include damage to soft tissue that can't be seen on X-rays.
Neck strain is often just called whiplash. Although it's usually associated with car accidents, any impact or blow that causes your head to jerk forward or backward can cause neck strain. The sudden force stretches and tears the muscles and tendons in your neck.
Neck strains are often confused with neck sprains. They're a bit different. Neck strains are caused by damage to the muscle or the tendons, bands of tissue that connect muscles to bones. Neck sprains are caused by tearing of the ligaments, the tissues that connect the bones to each other.
The blow that causes neck strain can sometimes cause a concussion, too. Since concussions can be serious, you need to see a doctor right away. You need emergency medical care if you have a headache that worsens or persists, have weakness or trouble talking, or are confused, dizzy, nauseous, excessively sleepy, or unconscious.
Once the acute symptoms of neck strain are gone, your doctor will probably want you to start rehabilitation. This will make your neck muscles stronger and more limber. It will help you both recover and reduce the odds of straining your neck again in the future.
Whatever you do, don't rush things. People who play contact sports need to be especially careful that they are fully healed before playing again. Your doctor will clear you to resume your activity when you are ready. Do not try to return to your previous level of physical activity until you can:
Dr. Angela M. Bell is an ABMS board certified physician, specializing in internal medicine and sports medicine. She practices in the south side of Chicago, in the treatment of sports and musculoskeletal injuries in athletes and nonathletes.
Jacquelyn has been a writer and research analyst in the health and pharmaceutical space since she graduated with a degree in biology from Cornell University. A native of Long Island, NY, she moved to San Francisco after college, and then took a brief hiatus to travel the world. In 2015, Jacquelyn relocated from sunny California to even sunnier Gainesville, FL, where she owns 7 acres and more than 100 fruit trees. She loves chocolate, pizza, hiking, yoga, soccer, and Brazilian capoeira. Connect with her on LinkedIn.
Some people with whiplash experience chronic (long-term) pain or headaches for years after the event that caused the initial injury. Doctors may be able to trace this pain to damaged neck joints, discs, and ligaments. But chronic pain following a whiplash injury typically has no medical explanation.
Your doctor might order imaging tests that will allow them to assess any damage or inflammation in the soft tissues, spinal cord, or nerves. They can also detect the presence of a brain injury. These imaging tests may include:
Very few people have any long-term complications from whiplash. Usually, recovery time is anywhere from a few days to several weeks. According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, most people recover fully within 3 months.
While the most common cause of whiplash is front- or rear-impact car accidents, the injury can actually happen anytime, according to Vincent Traynelis, MD, a neurosurgeon at Rush University Medical Center. You can get whiplash from a fall, or from high-impact sports, such as snowboarding, skiing, boxing, football or gymnastics.
All physicians featured on this website are on the medical faculty of Rush University Medical Center, Rush Copley Medical Center or Rush Oak Park Hospital. Some of the physicians featured are in private practice and, as independent practitioners, are not agents or employees of Rush University Medical Center, Rush Copley Medical Center or Rush Oak Park Hospital.
Dr. Gregory Minnis is a physical therapist with an interest in orthopedic manual therapy. His work experience includes orthopedic physical therapy, sports medicine, neurological rehab, advanced assessment and treatment of running injuries, and advanced treatment of the pelvic complex, spine, and extremities.
After working as part of the editorial team for Medical News Today, Markus wrote a large body of medical information articles for our Knowledge Center. Based in Edinburgh, he has qualifications in medical science and science communication and enjoys photography.
Jamie is fascinated by the intersection of health and humanity. Before writing for Healthline, she completed a B.A. in English. She hopes her work will help increase health literacy and pave the way toward a healthy future for all. She is currently studying Public Health and Biostatistics.
Put simply, the ligaments and tendons in the neck are sprained during a whiplash injury because they have been overstretched. Even though the neck has not been broken, it may sometimes take several months for everything to heal.
A whiplash injury typically takes 12-24 hours to develop. At the time of the incident, any swelling or bruising to the neck muscles will not be apparent straight away. In most cases, the discomfort, pain, and stiffness is much worse on the following day, and may continue to worsen as each day goes by.
The injury is often made worse because the muscles, in order to compensate for the sudden movement, pull the head back into position too hard, causing another overstretching in the opposite direction.
Most patients will experience a significant improvement in symptoms after a few days. According to the NHS (National Health Service), United Kingdom, in approximately 60 percent of cases, symptoms clear up completely within 1-4 weeks. However, some people still have symptoms several months after the injury occurred; on rare occasions, problems may persist for even longer.
Patients should try to move their necks normally; it is important to do this under the directions of a qualified healthcare professional. In cases where symptoms are severe, the individual may have to completely rest the neck until the pain allows for movement.
Painkillers, such as Tylenol (paracetamol), may reduce whiplash injury pain. Some doctors may advise patients to take painkillers regularly, and not just when the pain is severe. It is important not to exceed the dose.
NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), such as ibuprofen, can help with the swelling (inflammation). Patients with asthma, hypertension (high blood pressure), kidney failure, or heart failure should check with their doctors before taking NSAIDs. Make sure to consult with your doctor before taking any medication for pain.
A qualified healthcare professional can teach the patient how to maintain a good upright posture, for example, keeping the back straight when walking, standing, or sitting; this can prevent neck pain and stiffness from getting worse. A firm pillow can help maintain good posture while sleeping. See a physical therapist for posture training and tips to reduce pain.
Soft foam collars used to be popular for whiplash injury treatment. However, immobilizing the neck for long periods may undermine recovery, because muscle bulk and strength is reduced. If a cervical collar is needed, it should usually be worn for no more than 3 hours at a time.
A small percentage of patients have chronic (long-term) pain, which can persist for 6 months or longer. Long-term pain can make it more difficult for the patient to enjoy some activities, as well as carrying out many everyday chores. In some cases, the chronic pain can be traced back to joint, disk, or ligament damage. For some patients, the cause of the long-term pain is never found.
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