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Whiplash

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What is Whiplash?

What is Whiplash Injury?

Whiplash is the sudden, rapid backward and forward movement of a person’s head. This injury is most associated with car accidents but can also result from any accident, particularly falls. Each year, about two million people living in the U.S. experience whiplash in which the neck, head, shoulder, and back are affected.

Grades of Whiplash

Grades

Whiplash is an injury that has four degrees of injury, according to the Quebec Task Force Classification.

  • Grade 0: Individuals will not experience pain, and no physical signs of injury exist.
  • Grade I: At this level, an individual experiences pain and stiffness when moving the neck, and the injured area is also tender to the touch. 
  • Grade II: Individuals will experience pain that radiates to the face, shoulder, head, and back, stiffness, bruising, and swelling. There’s also a decreased range of motion, muscle spasms, and sensitivity at the area of injury.
  • Grade III: Individuals will experience symptoms from the first and second grades of the injury, plus inflammation and the following symptoms:
    • Headaches
    • Numbness in the neck, shoulders or upper arms, and upper back
    • Tingling sensations in the neck, upper back, shoulders, or upper arms
    • Vision problems 
    • Hoarseness and trouble swallowing
    • Dizziness
    • Muscle weakness
  • Grade IV: The previous signs and symptoms are more severe in grade IV, especially neurological ones. Injuries include at least one neck vertebra that is fractured or out of alignment, which places pressure on the spinal cord and nearby nerves.

Signs & Symptoms of Whiplash

Symptoms

Symptoms of whiplash will usually appear within 24 hours after the incident. Sometimes, symptoms might develop after a few days.

The most common symptoms include the following and can last for several weeks:

  • Neck pain and stiffness
  • Dizziness
  • Headaches, especially at the base of the skull
  • Blurred vision

These less common symptoms associated with chronic whiplash include:

  • Problems with memory and concentration
  • Irritability
  • Inability to sleep well
  • Chronic pain in the shoulders, neck, or head

Whiplash can be challenging, but a doctor or spine specialist at NewYork-Presbyterian can help treat whiplash and its symptoms.

More to explore

What Causes Whiplash?

Causes

Whiplash is caused by a rapid backward and forward movement of the head, such as trauma, resulting in strain and stiffness in the neck. This sudden motion causes tendons and ligaments in the neck to stretch and tear. 

Common causes of whiplash include:

  • Car collisions
  • Contact sports like football, boxing, and martial arts
  • Violence
  • A fall that causes the head to jerk backward violently leading to a neck injury
  • Blows to the head with a heavy object
  • Horseback riding

Risk Factors

Risk Factors

Here are a few risk factors that increase the chances of whiplash injuries:

  • Experiencing a prior incident involving whiplash
  • Existing back or neck pain
  • Older age
  • Women are twice as likely to suffer whiplash
  • A high-speed injury

Complications

ComplicationsRisk Factors

Whiplash can result in damaged discs, ligaments, and joints in the neck. For some individuals, whiplash results in chronic or severe pain or headaches lasting for months and years after an initial injury.

  • Cervical spine fractures
  • Neck dislocation
  • Neurological problems
  • Numbness
  • Difficulty Walking
  • It may also result in paralysis in severe cases

Prevention

Prevention

Although whiplash is a spontaneous injury, there are several things you can do to reduce your risk of developing the condition. 

  • Adjust your vehicle seat:  Adjust your driver’s seat and headrests to the desired position. You may also purchase orthopedic seat cushions to further adjust your height or posture.
  • Wear seat belt properly: Adjust your seat belt across your shoulder to lie snugly against your body. Proper seat belt positioning will help slow or prevent sudden forward momentum that causes a whiplash injury.
  • Drive safely: Practice safe driving by maintaining a safe distance with the cars in front and behind you. Maintaining a safe distance while driving allows other drivers to stop in time when trying to avoid an accident.
  • Play sports safely:  Use necessary safety protocols when participating in dangerous contact sports such as football and hockey to prevent whiplash injury among individuals.
 

This content has been reviewed by the following medical editors.

Neel Mehta, MD

Jaspal R. Singh, MD

Clark Smith, MD

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Trust NewYork-Presbyterian for Whiplash Care

You may have whiplash if you recently experienced a stiff neck, dizziness, or headaches following a vehicular accident or a sports injury. Our spine specialists at NewYork Presbyterian provide the best treatment for whiplash injuries. Call us today for a consultation.