Whiplash and neck injuries are commonly associated with rear-end car accidents, where the occupants of the front vehicle are unprepared for impact. But whiplash injuries can result from other types of incidents too, including:
- car and truck accidents that don’t involve rear-end impact
- contact sports like football, hockey, and soccer
- intentional assaults that produce head trauma (a hard shove from behind, for example)
- skiing and snowboarding accidents
- repetitive stress injuries at work
- child abuse (shaken baby syndrome, for example)
- slip and fall accidents in stores and homes or on poorly-maintained sidewalks
Some misconceptions about whiplash causes:
hiplash is commonly caused by low speed, low impact, rear-end automobile collisions. The causes of whiplash are complex and relate to a range of factors beyond just the force of impact. These factors include the position of the driver or passenger’s head at the time of impact; the person’s seating position, height, and gender; the position of the seat and head restraints; and the relative size and weight of the vehicles involved in the accident.
Another misconception about whiplash is that, because it involves soft tissue, whiplash is minor and not all that serious of an injury. However, medical evidence suggests that soft tissue injuries can be serious and can have long-term effects if left untreated. This is why it’s important to be checked out by a doctor if you have been involved in any type of car accident.
Symptoms may include:
- neck pain and stiffness
- decrease range of motion
- headaches
- dizziness
- blurred vision
- shoulder, arm or back pain
- sleep disturbance, fatigue or trouble concentrating
- unusual sensations such as burning, prickling, tingling in the arms
Seek medical attention
Neck or other soft tissue injuries can have serious consequences and lead to a wide range of health problems if left untreated, so seek immediate medical attention following an accident.