Whiplash has been in the media recently and is a term used to describe a neck injury caused by a sudden movement of the head forwards, backwards or sideways. It is common in road traffic accidents but may also be caused by sports injuries, falls or assaults. Most cases of whiplash injury occur as the result of rear-end vehicle collisions at speeds of less than 14 miles per hour.
Common symptoms of whiplash include:
- neck pain and stiffness
- tenderness over the neck muscles
- reduced and painful neck movements
- headaches