Health Bulletin 2: Auto Injuries Whiplash

Whiplash pain can be unlike any other types of pain. When a car accident is severe, the pain will come on right away. If the injury produces a slight or moderate sprain, sometimes it takes a few days for the pain and inflammation to reach its maximum. Sometimes it is stiffness that is the most common symptom and the patient notices this in the first few weeks after the accident. The delay in pain is often seen in low speed collisions.

There are a lot of factors that determine the extent of injury following a low speed whiplash. One of these is the neck posture prior to impact. Was the head rotated? This can occur if the patient was looking at the rear view mirror prior to the collision.

Speed and the amount of vehicle damage are sometimes good criteria for the severity of the trauma. However, it may not be in all cases due to crumple zones. Cars are built with crumple zones. These areas are crushed during the collision and absorb the impact. In low speed collisions, there is less crumple zone and more of the force is to the driver.

Another factor in whiplash is whether the head-rest was in the proper position. A proper head-rest should be close to the back of the head and its high point slightly above the top of the head. The reason for the high position is that in a rear-end collision, patient who is being hit will rise slightly with impact. If the head-rest is too low, then the neck will bend around it like a fulcrum causing even more injury. The same thing happens if the seat is reclined too far and the head whips backwards before hitting the head-rest.

Because symptoms can come on slowly and minor vehicle damage is not a proper indicator of injury, a thorough examination is recommended. It is important to be checked by a health care provider after an automobile accident.