Whiplash is nothing but the neck pain due to the injury to the neck’s soft tissues. It is caused when an abnormal motion or force is applied on the neck muscles which are soft and delicate. Most of the neck injuries are the result of the collisions which includes sudden deceleration and acceleration, the automobile collisions and accidents, or due to the result of a sports injury. It may also affect the persons who does not wears seat belt when he is seated at the rear end of the vehicle. Whiplash causes the neck ligaments to stretch and sometimes fracturing of the vertebrae may happen.
Even though, Whiplash mainly causes injuries to the neck muscles, they still strain the structures that support the facet and apophyseal joints. It may also extend to posterior and anterior longitudinal ligaments and some times damages of esophagus and larynx reports.
The main cause of the Whiplash is stretching of the soft spine tissue due to a sudden jerk or heavy force applied on it. The car crashes that involves sudden deceleration causes physical strenuous on the neck muscles thus results in Whiplash. The common other causes of Whiplash are repetitive stress injuries and Chronic strains. Injuries may happen to child’s brain while shaking the child or due to Child abuse sometimes.
