Whiplash (medicine)

Whiplash, officially called whiplash associated disorders (WAD), covers a set of neck injuries triggered by a sudden neck distortion linked to extension, although doctors still don't know the exact injury mechanisms. The word "whiplash" is just a common term. "Cervical acceleration–deceleration" (CAD) refers to how the injury happens, while WAD refers to the injuries and symptoms that follow. Most people associate whiplash with car crashes, especially when a vehicle is hit from behind, but it can also come from headbanging, bungee jumping, falls, and other activities.

Before cars existed, these injuries were called "railway spine" because they mostly happened in train collisions. Medical literature described cases of railway spine as early as the 1860s and 1880s, long before the 20th century. Since then, whiplash cases have jumped sharply due to rear-end car accidents. Because symptoms vary so much, the Quebec Task Force on Whiplash-Associated Disorders came up with the phrase "Whiplash-Associated Disorders." Whiplash is one of the most common injury claims on car insurance policies in some countries. In the United Kingdom, 430,000 people filed whiplash claims in 2007, though the exact impact on premiums is complex and varies by insurer. In the United States, over 65% of all bodily injury claims involve whiplash, costing about $8 billion each year. There is broad agreement that acute whiplash is common, but chronic whiplash is debated—studies in at least three countries have found zero to low rates of it, and some researchers think financial factors might play a role.

People with whiplash report pain and aching in the neck and back, pain that spreads to the shoulders, sensory issues like pins and needles in the arms and legs, and headaches. Symptoms can show up right after the injury, but often don't appear until days later. Whiplash usually stays in the spine, most often affecting the neck and middle of the spine. Neck pain is very common between the shoulder and neck. The "missing link" of whiplash might be in or near the shoulder, which could explain why treating just the neck often doesn't provide lasting relief. Cognitive symptoms after whiplash, like getting easily distracted or irritated, seem common and may point to a worse outcome.