Orthopedics Sports Injuries Whiplash Injuries: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment By Elizabeth Quinn Updated on November 03, 2023 Medically reviewed by Amy Kwan, PT Fact checked by Jennifer Klump Print Whiplash injuries occur when a forceful impact (commonly from behind) causes the head and neck to snap backward and then forward in an abrupt, violent motion. It is commonly seen in car accidents, and some contact sports, such as football, which can lead to whiplash injuries. Paul Bradbury / Getty Images Causes Whiplash, also called cervical hyperextension injury or flexion-extension neck injury, refers to an injury to the soft tissues of the neck, including the ligaments, tendons, and muscles. The symptoms of whiplash include neck pain and stiffness. Upper back and shoulder pain can also occur. Most whiplash injuries heal within weeks, but if left untreated, they can linger and turn into chronic conditions that last for years and lead to pain and sometimes disability. Symptoms The most common symptoms of whiplash occur immediately or within 24 hours of the accident: Neck pain and stiffness Headaches Pain in the shoulder or between the shoulder blades Low back pain Pain or numbness in the arm and/or hand Dizziness Ringing in the ears or blurred vision Difficulty concentrating or remembering Irritability, sleep disturbances, fatigue Treatment If you have a whiplash injury, it’s important to see a doctor to evaluate the extent of your injuries. Most injuries are similar to those of neck strains and include soft tissue injuries to the muscles and ligaments but whiplash can damage the cervical discs as well. A physician will often request a variety of diagnostic tests to confirm the area of injury. Sometimes CT Scans or MRI are used to determine the extent of the injury. In the past, whiplash injuries were immobilized in a cervical collar. However, the current trend is to encourage early movement, rather than immobilization. First aid for whiplash includes heat and cold therapy. Over-the-counter pain medications are also helpful in reducing inflammation and pain. A visit to a physical therapist will allow you to receive a personal exercise program and treatment plan. Returning to activity is encouraged, but modifications in your previous training will likely be necessary. Low impact exercise and a great deal of flexibility work will be needed before you can return to your previous training routine. 5 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Tanaka N, Atesok K, Nakanishi K, et al. Pathology and treatment of traumatic cervical spine syndrome: whiplash injury. Adv Orthop. 2018;2018:1-6. doi:10.1155/2018/4765050 Rutsch N, Amrein P, Exadaktylos AK, et al. Cervical spine trauma - Evaluating the diagnostic power of CT, MRI, X-Ray and LODOX. Injury. 2023;54(7):110771. doi:10.1016/j.injury.2023.05.003 Christensen SWM, Rasmussen MB, Jespersen CL, Sterling M, Skou ST. Soft-collar use in rehabilitation of whiplash-associated disorders - A systematic review and meta-analysis. Musculoskelet Sci Pract. 2021;55:102426. doi:10.1016/j.msksp.2021.102426 Mourad F, Rossettini G, Galeno E, et al. Use of soft cervical collar among whiplash patients in two Italian emergency departments is associated with persistence of symptoms: a propensity score matching analysis. Healthcare (Basel). 2021;9(10):1363. Bussières AE, Stewart G, Al-Zoubi F, et al. The treatment of neck pain-associated disorders and whiplash-associated disorders: a clinical practice guideline. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2016;39(8):523-564.e27. doi:10.1016/j.jmpt.2016.08.007 By Elizabeth Quinn Elizabeth Quinn is an exercise physiologist, sports medicine writer, and fitness consultant for corporate wellness and rehabilitation clinics. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Medical Expert Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit