What is whiplash and do you have it?

Much like the name states, whiplash is the occurrence of a sudden jolt backward followed by an equally jarring push forward.

This most commonly occurs in the neck and head. As the laws of physics state – “An object in motion, stays in motion.”

What this means when applied to a whiplash scenario, is when a person is driving, or sitting in a car traveling down the road, and gets into an accident, it causes the body to experience a rapid loss of acceleration, which leads to the neck and head whipping back and forth causing the brain to keep moving after the head stops.

Our necks and heads are not built to withstand this jarring occurrence, and therefore many injuries are sustained in even “minor” car accidents. Whiplash can also occur in sports or any other scenario where an accident can cause you to rapidly lose momentum and force your head and neck to whip back and forth.

If you experienced whiplash, you might have sustained damage to your neck, spine, and even brain in the form of a concussion. It is best to get to receive analysis the extent of your injuries immediately. BrainScope is a leading accident, traumatic brain injury, and concussions diagnostic procedure that is FDA approved for only 72 hours post-injury. Though it will be challenging to think clearly after a car accident, keep this timeline in mind for your immediate and future health and well being.

If you believe you have experienced whiplash, please give us a call today.