Whiplash
- Whiplash Overview
- Whiplash Causes
- Whiplash Symptoms
- When to Seek Medical Care
- Exams and Tests
- Whiplash Treatment
- Self-Care at Home
- Medical Treatment
- Next Steps
- Follow-up
- Prevention
- Outlook
- Synonyms and Keywords
- Authors and Editors
Whiplash Overview
Whiplash is a nonmedical term used to describe neck pain following an injury to the soft tissues of your neck (specifically ligaments, tendons, and muscles). It is caused by an abnormal motion or force applied to your neck that causes movement beyond the neck's normal range of motion.
- Whiplash happens in motor vehicle accidents, sporting activities, accidental falls, and assault.
- The term whiplash was first used in 1928, and despite its replacement by synonyms (such as acceleration flexion-extension neck injury and soft tissue cervical hyperextension injury), it continues to be used to describe this common soft tissue neck injury. Your doctor may use the more specific terms of cervical sprain, cervical strain, or hyperextension injury.
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Whiplash
Neck and Back Injuries Overview
Trauma to the neck and back can lead to spinal cord injury and permanent disability. If trauma occurs, the neck and back should be splinted and movement should be avoided. Accurately determining the cause and extent of the injury is important. The vertebral column has many ligaments and muscles that protect the spinal cord and assist in movement. Injury to any of these structures may cause significant and debilitating pain, even if a neck or back injury does not involve the nerves.
Neck and Back Injuries Symptoms
- Someone with a neck or back injury may have localized pain, tenderness, and stiffness. Muscles on either side of the spinal column may spasm immediately after an injury or up to 24 hours later.
- Numbness, tingling, or paralysis of an extremity indicates that a more serious injury may have occurred.
- Any penetrating injury to the...
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Cervical Sprain and Strain »
Cervical strain is one of the most common musculoskeletal problems encountered by generalists and neuromusculoskeletal specialists in the clinic.
