A whiplash injury occurs when the head is thrown forward at high speed and then quickly hurled back. This injury is seen primarily in accidents, for example in car collisions where a vehicle is rammed from the rear.

The violent force impacting the neck leads to sprain and damage to the neck muscles and ligaments and possibly spinal joints.

 

The symptoms appear as:

The treatment is rest. Your doctor may prescribe a so-called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), which may help against the pain and swelling.

Psychotherapy can be a good help for rehabilitation of the muscles in the neck and shoulder.

Read more in the article: Whiplash treatment - Multidisciplinary.

 

Damage to the muscles and ligaments around neck spinal joints usually takes 4 to 6 weeks to heal. A certain percentage of patients will develop chronic symptoms such as:
 

The symptoms are present without determinable damage to nerves or the spinal cord.

In connection with the accident there might be damage to the spinal cord, fracture of neck vertebrae’s or damage to nerves. These are serious complications requiring hospital treatment.

Read more in the article: Whiplash treatment - Multidisciplinary.
 
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