Whiplash (medicine)

Whiplash is a non-medical term describing a range of injuries to the neck caused by or related to a sudden distortion of the neck associated with rapid acceleration-deceleration forces. It occurs most commonly in motor vehicle accidents. The term "whiplash" was first used in 1928, and despite its not being a medical term, it is commonly used to describe a range of injuries.

Signs and symptoms

The symptoms reported by patients that are associated with the whiplash mechanism of injury include: neck pain and stiffness, headache, shoulder pain and stiffness, dizziness, fatigue, jaw pain, arm pain, arm weakness, visual disturbances, ringing in the ears and back pain.

Causes

Whiplash is commonly associated with motor vehicle accidents, usually when the vehicle has been hit in the rear.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis of whiplash is usually made on the basis of the patient's history and the clinical examination.

Treatment

The treatment of whiplash is usually conservative, and includes physical therapy, pain medication, and possibly injections.

See also

• Neck pain
• Soft tissue injury
• Traffic collision

References

Whiplash (medicine) Resources
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