Whiplash Injuries - Monach University Accident Research Center
Medical reports refer to whiplash as "railway spine" . This term was used in the 19th century to describe the persistent pain and other "subjective symptoms" reported by railway passengers and personnel due to minor railway crashes. Similar injuries can result from all types of motor vehicle crashes, but the typical mechanism involves rear-end collisions. During a typical rear-end collision, the struck vehicle is subjected to a forceful forward acceleration. The occupant is pushed forward by the seat back and the head lags behind due to its inertia. The head is subjected to a swift rearward translational motion followed by an extension motion. At a later stage, the head and torso will be rebound forward and hit the seat belt, flexing the neck . The literature suggests that the most common injuries due to whiplash involve the zygapophyseal joints, the intervertebral discs, and the upper cervical ligaments. Other injuries may occur for example nerve damage