What is Whiplash?

Whiplash is an cervical sprain.

A sprain is an injury to soft tissues, such as muscles, ligaments and tendons.  Cervical refers to the cervical vertebrae, the seven vertebrae in the upper part of your spine, between the skull and the chest.  Ligaments in the neck can become overstretched due to trauma, causing tension or tearing of the ligament. 

Whiplash injuries are characterized by neck and shoulder pain.

Sprains can be categorized into three types:

• Mild:  ligament fibers torn, but no function is lost
• Moderate:  ligament is partially ruptured, causing some function to be lost
• Severe:  the ligament is completely ruptured or separated from the bone, causing total loss of function and generally requiring surgical repair

Causes of Acute Cervical Sprain?

An acute cervical sprain may be caused by any significant trauma, like a car crash, which places excessive stress on the ligaments in the neck.  Activities such as physical  sports may result also in cervical sprain. 

‘Acute’ means that the injury and symptoms are immediate and short-term.  Pain or swelling that lasts longer than a few weeks is not consider acute and may require more extensive intervention.

The risks of cervical sprain in contact sports can be minimized with adequate conditioning and warm-up, as well as appropriate protective equipment, including appropriate height head rests in cars.

Symptoms of an Acute Cervical Sprain?

Symptoms may include:

• Severe pain at the time of injury or shortly following
• Feeling and/or sound of tearing in the neck at the time of injury
• Muscle spasms may also be present in the muscles surrounding the sprained ligament
• Painful movement and/or stiffness
• Swelling and/or bruising at the injury site
• Headaches
• Fatigue
• Restless sleep

Treatment of an Acute Cervical Sprain?

Immediate care generally will include use of a soft cervical collar to immobilize the neck while it heals.  Cold applications may also be used, 3-4 times a day.  After 72 hours, heat may be recommended, including heat lamps, showers, or heating pads.  Massage may also help.

Pain medication may be prescribed by your physician, including anti-inflammatory agents or stronger pain relievers.  Muscle relaxants may be prescribed if the muscle is in spasm.  The use of narcotics will generally be avoided, however, due to the risk of dependency.

A rehabilitation program will include a return to activity as soon as possible after symptoms begin to improve.  Increased strength in the muscles will help prevent further injury. 

Isometric exercises, in which the muscles are contracted and released for short periods of time, may be helpful in gradually increasing the use of the muscles.  Range of motion exercises may also be done.  Applying some heat first, such as from a warm shower or towel, will help to relax the muscle.

Mild sprains will generally heal in 2-6 weeks, with more severe sprains requiring up to 10 weeks to fully heal.  If pain and/or inflammation are unresponsive to treatment during that time, more severe conditions should be explored.

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