Whiplash is an injury to the soft tissues of the neck from a
sudden jerking or "whipping" of the head. This type of motion
strains the muscles and ligaments of the neck beyond their
normal range of motion. See also: Neck pain When a vehicle stops
suddenly in a crash or is hit from behind, the seat belt will
keep a person's body from being thrown forward. But the head may
snap forward, then backward, causing a whiplash injury. In
addition to car accidents, whiplash can be caused by roller
coasters and other amusement park rides, sports injuries, or
being punched or shaken. (Whiplash is one of the hallmarks of
shaken baby syndrome .) You may feel pain and stiffness in your
neck for the first few days after a whiplash injury. You may
feel better early on, but the pain and stiffness may come back
several days later. This symptom can last for months or years.
The discomfort you feel may involve surrounding muscle groups in
your head, chest, shoulders, and arms. Steps to take care of
your whiplash injury include: -