You hear about whiplash often in conjunction with car accidents, but what is it? Why does it happen?

Whiplash is a very common injury when we talk about injuries that can happen in a car crash. Cedars-Sinai describes the cause perfectly: “[Whiplash is] caused by your neck bending forcibly forward and then backward, or vice versa.” It can happen no matter how fast you, as a driver, are driving or how fast another car may have been driving.

Rush University System for Health said that “. . . many whiplash injuries from vehicle accidents occur at speeds as low as five to 10mph.” so it does not take much.

The symptoms of whiplash can vary greatly, from neck pain and stiffness, worsening pain with neck movement, headaches, to fatigue. These symptoms can show up within a day or more of an accident. If you have neck pain and have been in an accident recently, it is critical to speak to your doctor. Chiropractic care can be an incredibly helpful treatment for a whiplash injury.