Causes of Whiplash

Whiplash most commonly occurs in car accidents, where speeds even as low as 15 mph can produce enough energy to cause whiplash—whether or not you are wearing a seatbelt. However, if you are not properly restrained with your seatbelt, your head may strike the steering wheel or windshield, causing a concussion in addition to whiplash.

Whiplash can also be caused by sporting activities, falls, roller coasters, or from being punched or shaken. It can also be one of the results of “shaken baby syndrome” (i.e., violently shaking an infant or child).

Most simply described, whiplash is caused by a motion or force that makes your neck move beyond its normal range of motion. An 8 mph car collision produces two times the force of gravity, or a 2-G acceleration of the car, and a 5-G acceleration of the head. This unnatural and forceful movement affects the muscles and ligaments in the neck, stretching and tearing them. The discs between the vertebrae can bulge, tear, or rupture, and vertebrae can be forced out of their normal position, reducing your range of motion. The spinal cord and nerve roots can get stretched, irritated, and “choked.”

Older people, and those who already have neck problems such as arthritis, may experience more serious whiplash than a younger person. As people get older, their movement is more limited, their muscles lose flexibility and strength, and their discs and ligaments are not as elastic (stretchy). So, when their neck whips back and forth, it has more potential for damage.