Whiplash

Whiplash is a common injury caused by a quick and sudden jerk of the head sideways, backwards, or forwards. It is almost always associated with road traffic accidents; however, the causes of the injury are not confined to this:

• A blow to the head
• A slip forwards where the head is suddenly jerked backward or vice versa
• Being hit on the head by a blunt or large object

It is hard to estimate the amount of time it takes for any given whiplash incident to heal; some people will begin to feel better after a few weeks or a few months, however, others may still experience their symptoms for a year or more after their injury.

Symptoms of whiplash can vary, but common ones include:

• Tenderness of the neck and neck pain
• Difficulty turning your head due to stiffness and pain
• Spasms of the neck muscles
• Shoulder or upper arm pain
• Headaches
• Tightness in the neck