Whiplash

If your car is suddenly rear-ended, the impact causes your car to suddenly accelerate and your head to snap forward, face, tilted down, toward the steering wheel. When you manage to bring the car to a halt, the sudden stop then whips your head and neck backward until they bounce against the headrest. This is called whiplash.

Whiplash causes pain in the neck area in about 20 percent of people involved in rear-end collisions. Although most recover quickly, a small number develop chronic conditions with severe pain and disability.

Signs and symptoms

• Neck pain and stiffness
• Headaches
• Pain in the shoulder and between the shoulder blades
• Low back pain
• Pain or numbness in the arm and/or hand
• Dizziness
• Ringing in the ears or blurred vision
• Difficulty concentrating or remembering
• Irritability, sleep disturbance, fatigue

Diagnosis and Treatment
Most whiplash injuries are to the soft tissues (disks, muscles and ligaments), which cannot be seen on standard X-ray studies. As a result, your doctor may request additional tests, such as MRIs (magnetic resonance images).

In the past, treatments often included immobilization in a cervical collar. The current trend, however, is to encouragement early movement. The soft collar may be used for a short periods.

Ice may be applied for the first 24 hours. Gentle exercises that can be done at home may be suggested. An early return to work is encouraged, although temporary modifications of the work area or routine may be required. Other treatments that may be beneficial include pain-relieving medications, physical therapy, traction, massage, heat, injections and ultrasound.

As soon as possible, you should begin aerobic activities, such as walking.

Some isometric exercises may also be prescribed as improvement is noted. About 75 percent of people with whiplash recover satisfactorily within several months. Chronic conditions might require surgery.