Whiplash
What is whiplash?
Whiplash is a common neck injury caused by a sudden, jerking motion of the head, often from a road traffic accident, sports injury, or even a fall. Some people are surprised at having symptoms even after a minor road traffic accident. It’s common and, while recovery times can vary, most people recover fully.
Symptoms may include
- Pain and stiffness in the neck, which may make turning or bending it difficult.
- Discomfort in the shoulders, arms, or upper back.
- Symptoms may not show up until hours after the incident, often getting worse the next day.
- Feeling tired, irritable, or having trouble concentrating for a few days.
Don’t worry – whiplash injuries recover with the right care. This page offers simple tips to help speed up your recovery.
Call 999 or go to A&E if you experience:
- Sudden weakness or difficulty coordinating your arms or legs
- Sudden loss of feeling (numbness) or persistent pins and needles in your face, arm, or hand
- New onset of fainting, double vision, or difficulty speaking or swallowing
- An “electric shock” feeling in your neck or back that may radiate into your arms or legs
3 facts about whiplash
Scans may be required if there is a loss of sensation and power in the arms, significantly restricted neck movement, particularly if there has been a significant traumatic injury, but they are unhelpful at showing the cause of neck pain in most cases.
Learning to relax the neck and to move the neck in all directions is not only safe, but it’s also healthy for the neck. Pain on movement is not a sign that you’re causing yourself harm.
Immobilising the neck (such as using a neck collar) may avoid pain in the short term but it will likely make the problem worse in the long term. The health of the neck is maintained through regular relaxed movement and maintaining the strength of the neck and upper limb muscles.