Article by Anna Kania
What is whiplash? Whiplash is an injury to your neck. It is caused by your neck bending forcibly forward and then backward, or vice versa.
Most whiplash injuries result from a collision that includes sudden acceleration or deceleration. A whiplash injury may result from:
It is difficult to predict how each person with whiplash may recover. In general, you may be more likely to have chronic pain if your first symptoms were intense, started rapidly and included:
You are likely to have a worse outcome if you:
Signs and symptoms of whiplash usually develop within days of the injury, and may include:
However, not all whiplash is the same. Experts created a grading system for the severity of whiplash-associated disorders. Known as the Quebec Classification of Whiplash-Associated Disorders:
Grade 0
At this level, a person with whiplash does not feel any pain or show any signs or symptoms of injury.
Grade 1
This level of whiplash is the first one where a person feels pain. They will also be stiff and tender to touch.
Grade 2
This is similar to Grade 1 but also includes physical signs of an injury such as radiating pain, muscle spasm, and physical signs of injury, including bruising, swelling and sensitivity to being touched around the injury.
Grade 3
Involves neurological symptoms such as muscle weakness, numbness (including loss of ability to feel hot, cold or pain), burning, tingling or “pins and needles”, headaches, vision problems, hoarseness or loss of voice, trouble swallowing, and dizziness or vertigo.
Grade 4
Same as Grade 3 but more severe. This may be indicative of a neck fracture or a vertebral segment being out of place, putting pressure on your spinal cord or nearby nerves.
Call your doctor if:
2. Head rotation: Gently turn your head from one side to the other. Look where you are going. Progressively aim to turn your head far enough so your chin is in line with your shoulder and you can see the wall in line with your shoulder. Repeat 10 times to each side.
3. Shoulder blade exercise: This exercise will relax and ease any tension in the muscles on top of your shoulders and it will give you pain relief. a. Lie on your right side with your arm resting up on two pillows. b. Roll your left shoulder blade back and across your ribs towards the centre of your back. Hold the position for 10 seconds. Repeat five times. Repeat lying on the left side for the right shoulder blade.
4. Correct postural position: Correct your posture regularly by gently straightening up your lower back and pelvis (sit tall). Now gently draw your shoulder blades back and down. Gently tuck your chin in. Hold the position with ease for at least 10 seconds. This position will prevent and ease muscle pain and tension in your neck and shoulder muscles. Repeat the correction regularly, every half hour during the day. You can do this exercise at work, in the car, on a train or bus and sitting at home.
Neck movement exercises Sit in the correct postural position as described in exercise 4.
5. Rotation: Gently turn your head from one side to the other. Look where you are going, progressively aim to see the wall in line with your shoulder. This exercise is similar to the exercise you did lying down, only this time you do it sitting. Repeat 10 times.
6. Side bending: Gently tilt your head towards your shoulder and feel the gentle stretch in the muscles on the side of your neck. Perform the movement to both sides. Repeat 10 times.
Have you ever woken up with a stiff or aching neck, unable to turn your head, thinking ‘where did that come from?’
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