The study by Brian Stemper, Ph.D., assistant professor of
neurosurgery, resulted in the most comprehensively validated
computer model for whiplash reported in scientific literature.
"The practical aspect of this study is that you want to set your
head restraint so that it's very close to the back of your head.
Each time drivers and passengers get in a car, they should be
sure the head restraint is correctly positioned to minimize
injuries," Dr. Stemper suggests. His work is published in the
journal Accident Analysis and Prevention and data from the
report has been submitted to the U.S. Department of
Transportation for possible use in determining safety rules for
car manufacturers. Whiplash injuries affect the soft tissues of
the cervical spine (e.g., ligaments and intervertebral discs)
and can be sustained in any type of crash but occur most often
in low speed rear-end collisions. The injury affects more than
one million people in the U.S. each year and results in symptoms
of neck pain, headaches and lower ba