Dingle Town

What Can Lead to a Whiplash Injury?

Say, you are driving and you catch a red light. So you ease your car to a full stop, when suddenly...BAM! The motorist behind you rams his vehicle into yours. For a moment there, your world was rocked, as your head was whipped forward before slamming backward. Surprisingly though, you do not feel any pain after the initial shock wore off.

The day after the accident, however, you feel dizzy and you have a whooping headache; not to mention your neck feels numb. In this case, you may be the victim of a common vehicular injury – the whiplash. Of course, you have to get it treated right away, lest the pain escalates or complications arise.

So, what causes a whiplash?

This term, which was first used in 1928, refers to a neck injury that is typically the result of an automobile accident. It is caused by a sudden force of acceleration-deceleration, wherein a person's neck and head are suddenly pushed forward (a state of 'hyperextension') by an unexpected impact; after which, the said body parts would fall backward whilst unrestrained. This results to strained muscles, ligaments, and nerves.

Fortunately, it isn't life threatening in most cases, although it can lead to chronic pain or (worse) partial disability if left untreated. So if, through some unfortunate mishap, you experience whiplash, have it taken care of by an expert in physical therapy right away.