The 5 Most Common Risk Factors for Developing Chronic Whiplash From a Rear End Collision
Whiplash is defined by the Mayo Clinic as a neck injury that can occur during rear-end automobile collisions.
It occurs when your head suddenly moves backward and then forward - similar to the motion of someone cracking a whip.
It is estimated that there are more than 3 million new cases of whiplash in the US each year.
Symptoms of whiplash include neck pain, headaches, numbness or tingling in your upper extremities, and mid back pain.
Most people recover from whiplash in just a few weeks, but some people develop chronic conditions that can be extremely painful and disabling.
This article seeks to explain some of the risk factors that, when present, may lead to increased initial injuries and chronic, long-term effects from whiplash.
1) Awareness of the Collision: In a relatively low impact rear end collision it is beneficial to brace the muscles of your neck and shoulders.
This stabilizes the joints in upper spine thereby reducing the severity of injury.
On the other hand, when you are unaware and or not braced for the impact there is a higher predisposition to injury.
Researchers followed occupants involved in motor vehicle collisions for 6 months.
They concluded that awareness appears to have a strong predictive influence and may prove to be a useful prognostic indicator of chronic whiplash.
2) Out of Position: Postural changes such as head and body rotation, slumping forward or leaning to the side increase your probability of injury.
The joints of your neck and back are more stable in a neutral position.
A neutral seated position consists of your head over your shoulders and your shoulders over your hips.
There should be no rotation of your neck or torso in a neutral seated position Any deviation from this posture, especially when your head is rotated and tilted in a different direction from your torso, leaves you more susceptible to whiplash when in a rear end collision.
Chronic whiplash symptoms are more common when you are out of neutral position at the moment of impact.
3) Use of Seat Belt and Shoulder Harness: The use of a seat belts and shoulder harness significantly reduces your risk of serious injury or death in a high-speed or roll-over collision.
Conversely, studies have shown that the use of seat belts and shoulder harnesses increase the probability of experiencing whiplash in a rear end collision.
The protective mechanism of the shoulder harness, holding your torso close to the seat, is designed to avoid ejection and minimize your contact with rigid objects on the inside of your vehicle.
Although your torso and hips are secured by the lap belt and harness, your head and neck are not.
This allows for increased relative movement between your neck and torso, causing more stretching and tearing of muscles, ligaments and tendons in your neck and upper back.
A study in the United Kingdom showed that whiplash injuries rose 268% in the year after seat belt and shoulder harness laws went into effect.
They continued to rise 152% every year for the next 15 years.
4) Prior History of Whiplash or Arthritis in your Neck: Previous trauma or evidence of wear and tear in your neck indicate a "medical fragility".
Once any part of your body is injured, it becomes less stable than before the injury due to a process called the fibrosis of repair.
This is the healing process your body follows after injury.
It involves the formation of scar tissue.
There are 3 common findings in all healed soft tissue.
The healed tissue is super-sensitive.
This means it is more sensitive and painful to pressure and stretching.
The healed tissue is also less elastic.
It doesn't stretch as readily as before it was injured.
Finally, the healed tissue is weaker and more susceptible to tearing than it was prior to the injury.
The fibrosis of repair explains why prior injuries and arthritis are risk factors for developing chronic whiplash following a rear end car collision.
5) Improperly Positioned Head Restraint: Well designed and properly positioned head restraints significantly reduce your risk of injury from a rear-end collision.
When your head restraint is poorly positioned your risk for injury is increased.
The proper head restraint position is high and forward.
The back of your head should be at the middle of the front of the restraint.
Your head should also be no farther than 2 inches forward from the restraint.
This positioning reduces the excessive whipping of your head and neck that causes injury.
Whiplash is a complex and often misunderstood condition.
Part of the misconception lies in the failure to consider the above risk factors when seeking to understand why some experience chronic, disabling symptoms and others respond within a few weeks with no residual issues.
It occurs when your head suddenly moves backward and then forward - similar to the motion of someone cracking a whip.
It is estimated that there are more than 3 million new cases of whiplash in the US each year.
Symptoms of whiplash include neck pain, headaches, numbness or tingling in your upper extremities, and mid back pain.
Most people recover from whiplash in just a few weeks, but some people develop chronic conditions that can be extremely painful and disabling.
This article seeks to explain some of the risk factors that, when present, may lead to increased initial injuries and chronic, long-term effects from whiplash.
1) Awareness of the Collision: In a relatively low impact rear end collision it is beneficial to brace the muscles of your neck and shoulders.
This stabilizes the joints in upper spine thereby reducing the severity of injury.
On the other hand, when you are unaware and or not braced for the impact there is a higher predisposition to injury.
Researchers followed occupants involved in motor vehicle collisions for 6 months.
They concluded that awareness appears to have a strong predictive influence and may prove to be a useful prognostic indicator of chronic whiplash.
2) Out of Position: Postural changes such as head and body rotation, slumping forward or leaning to the side increase your probability of injury.
The joints of your neck and back are more stable in a neutral position.
A neutral seated position consists of your head over your shoulders and your shoulders over your hips.
There should be no rotation of your neck or torso in a neutral seated position Any deviation from this posture, especially when your head is rotated and tilted in a different direction from your torso, leaves you more susceptible to whiplash when in a rear end collision.
Chronic whiplash symptoms are more common when you are out of neutral position at the moment of impact.
3) Use of Seat Belt and Shoulder Harness: The use of a seat belts and shoulder harness significantly reduces your risk of serious injury or death in a high-speed or roll-over collision.
Conversely, studies have shown that the use of seat belts and shoulder harnesses increase the probability of experiencing whiplash in a rear end collision.
The protective mechanism of the shoulder harness, holding your torso close to the seat, is designed to avoid ejection and minimize your contact with rigid objects on the inside of your vehicle.
Although your torso and hips are secured by the lap belt and harness, your head and neck are not.
This allows for increased relative movement between your neck and torso, causing more stretching and tearing of muscles, ligaments and tendons in your neck and upper back.
A study in the United Kingdom showed that whiplash injuries rose 268% in the year after seat belt and shoulder harness laws went into effect.
They continued to rise 152% every year for the next 15 years.
4) Prior History of Whiplash or Arthritis in your Neck: Previous trauma or evidence of wear and tear in your neck indicate a "medical fragility".
Once any part of your body is injured, it becomes less stable than before the injury due to a process called the fibrosis of repair.
This is the healing process your body follows after injury.
It involves the formation of scar tissue.
There are 3 common findings in all healed soft tissue.
The healed tissue is super-sensitive.
This means it is more sensitive and painful to pressure and stretching.
The healed tissue is also less elastic.
It doesn't stretch as readily as before it was injured.
Finally, the healed tissue is weaker and more susceptible to tearing than it was prior to the injury.
The fibrosis of repair explains why prior injuries and arthritis are risk factors for developing chronic whiplash following a rear end car collision.
5) Improperly Positioned Head Restraint: Well designed and properly positioned head restraints significantly reduce your risk of injury from a rear-end collision.
When your head restraint is poorly positioned your risk for injury is increased.
The proper head restraint position is high and forward.
The back of your head should be at the middle of the front of the restraint.
Your head should also be no farther than 2 inches forward from the restraint.
This positioning reduces the excessive whipping of your head and neck that causes injury.
Whiplash is a complex and often misunderstood condition.
Part of the misconception lies in the failure to consider the above risk factors when seeking to understand why some experience chronic, disabling symptoms and others respond within a few weeks with no residual issues.
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