Category: Whiplash

Whiplash is a slang term for an injury to the neck that’s typically associated with a motor vehicle collision (MVC). A better term for “whiplash” is “whiplash associated disorder” (WAD) as it includes specific history and exam findings. There are usually two phases to an MVC: 1) an acceleration phase that is followed by 2)…

Whiplash injuries commonly result from motor vehicle collisions (MVC) and are caused by a sudden jolt that initiates a startle response that has been found to tighten the muscles deep inside the neck, which has been reported to increase the risk of injury to the joints and structures of the cervical spine. The amount of…

Exercise is an important part of whiplash treatment and is often overlooked by both patients and doctors. We will focus on several practical and effective exercises over the next several Health Updates. The first of this series can be called “brain exercises.” The following URL offers you a 37 page PDF of a booklet that…

Whiplash (or the rapid acceleration forwards followed by deceleration or sudden stopping of the moving head during the whiplash event) occurs at a speed that is so fast, we can’t prepare for it. In other words, by the time it takes us to voluntarily contract a muscle to guard ourselves against injury, that rapid forward/backwards…

Whiplash, or WAD (whiplash associated disorders) results from the rapid movement of the neck and head resulting in injury. This is the net result of the “classic” motor vehicle collision, though other injury models (like slips and falls) can result in similar injuries. Last month, we listed basic facts, of which one was better results…

Whiplash is a non-medical term typically describing what happens to the head and neck when a person is struck from behind in a motor vehicle collision. Let’s look at some basic facts about whiplash: Before cars, trains were the main source of whiplash and was called “railroad spine.” Better terms for whiplash injuries include “cervical…

Whiplash is, by definition, the rapid acceleration followed by deceleration of the head causing the neck to “crack like a whip” forwards and backwards at a rate so fast that the muscles cannot react quickly enough to control the motion. As reported last month, if a collision occurs in an automobile and the head rests…

Whiplash is a slang term for cervical acceleration, deceleration syndrome, or CAD. There are facts and myths surrounding the subject of whiplash. Let’s look at some of the facts. 1. The origin of CAD. The history of CAD dates back to a time prior to the invention of the car. The first case of severe…

Our current Whiplash topic continues from last month when we reviewed the “mechanism of injury,” the “type of injury,” and “prognosis.” This month, we will review the “nuts and bolts” of the whiplash injury or, whiplash associated disorders (WAD). Whiplash diagnosis: The diagnosis of whiplash first and foremost requires a thorough history. Here, we discuss…

The term “whiplash” is a slang term for a neck injury most accurately called a cervical acceleration-deceleration (CAD) injury. Now you know why we call it “whiplash”! It suggests that the head was forced through a range of motion that exceeds the barriers of our normal tissue, resulting in injury to the neck. Though a…