Many whiplash injuries occur when you are involved in a rear-end automobile collision. They also happen as a result of a sports injury, particularly during contact sports. The symptoms of whiplash may look like other conditions and medical problems. Always see your healthcare provider for a diagnosis. Along with a complete medical history and physical exam, tests for whiplash may include the following. Many whiplash injuries include damage to soft tissue that can't be seen on X-rays:. Electromagnetic energy beams produce images of internal tissues, bones, and organs onto film.
Magnetic resonance imaging MRI. Large magnets and a computer make detailed images of organs and soft tissue structures in your body. Computed tomography CT scan.
X-rays and computer technology make horizontal, or axial, images often called slices of your body. It can also be caused by a sudden blow to the head from contact sports such as rugby or boxing, being hit on the head by a heavy object, or a slip or fall where the head is jolted or jarred. If there is any suspicion that the injury was not the result of an accident, and that it was deliberately inflicted, you should seek help from a healthcare professional as soon as possible.
Your doctor will examine you, feel your neck and see how well your neck moves in different directions. They may order a neck x-ray to rule out a bone fracture or dislocation. The best thing you can do to recover from whiplash is to stay active and do some gentle neck exercises. People who drastically change or reduce their activity level after a whiplash injury tend to take longer to recover.
At first you may need to adapt how you move to take care of your neck. Then gradually build up to your normal activities as your neck improves. It may be necessary to adapt some work or recreational activities for a while to avoid unnecessary strain on your neck. An ice pack can relieve swelling and pain. You should apply this as soon as possible after the injury, for 15 to 20 minutes at a time.
You can make an ice pack from a bag of frozen peas wrapped in a tea towel to prevent cold burns, which you can re-freeze time and again. If you are in pain, get advice from your healthcare professional on suitable pain relief medicines.
Correct posture is important after a whiplash injury. Keep your back straight when you are sitting, standing or walking to help prevent stiffness and pain developing. If you spend a lot of time sitting at a desk, take regular breaks to stand up and move your body so that your neck and back do not become stiff.
You may need to ask for a special back support for your chair while you are recovering from an injury. You should speak to your HR department for more information about ways they may be able to help you if you have neck or back pain. Avoid heavy lifting, punching or pulling, or contact sports like rugby and boxing, until your symptoms improve and your doctor or healthcare professional is happy for you to start these activities again.
Take care when lifting, bending or carrying out repetitive twisting movements. Make sure that you take regular breaks and move your body position. You may find it helpful to sleep using a firm support pillow and to only use one pillow when you sleep.
Physiotherapy may help you to regain movement in your neck. Resting, taking time off work or wearing a collar are not likely to help you recover from whiplash. Cars these days are designed to reduce the chance of whiplash. Keep your arms bent and your thumbs on the rim of the steering wheel.
It's important to get a prompt and accurate diagnosis and to rule out broken bones or other damage that can cause or worsen symptoms.
Whiplash typically occurs when your head is forcefully and quickly thrown backward and then forward. This motion can injure bones in the spine, disks between the bones, ligaments, muscles, nerves and other tissues of the neck. Most people who have whiplash feel better within a few weeks and don't seem to have any lasting effects from the injury. However, some people continue to have pain for several months or years after the injury occurred. It is difficult to predict how each person with whiplash may recover.
In general, you may be more likely to have chronic pain if your first symptoms were intense, started rapidly and included:. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview Whiplash is a neck injury due to forceful, rapid back-and-forth movement of the neck, like the cracking of a whip.
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