What are the common signs and symptoms of whiplash?
Approximately two thirds of people involved in motor vehicle accidents develop symptoms of whiplash. Interestingly, the violence of the crash is not a definitive indicator of pain or even the amount of pain. Generally speaking, however, those involved in more severe accidents have more signs and symptoms. Another important and interesting aspect of whiplash is that the signs and symptoms often do not develop until 2 to 48 hours after the injury. This scenario is relatively common but not completely understood. Some speculate that it may be due to delayed muscle soreness, a condition seen in other circumstances. The most common symptoms of whiplash are pain and stiffness in the neck. These symptoms are generally found in the areas that are whiplashed. To illustrate what can happen during a whiplash, imagine a car being struck from behind. First, the head is lifted up from the upper-cervical spine as it moves backward towards the impact. Next, the head recoils forward and down away from
