• Question: Why do some people only realise they have wiplash like a day after a car accident?

    Asked by littlemisslaughter21 to Amy, Karen, Sarah, Will on 20 Jun 2012.
    • Photo: Amy Birch

      Amy Birch answered on 20 Jun 2012:

      Hi littlemisslaughter,
      Whiplash happens when your neck is injured because your head is jerked forwards, backwards or sideways suddenly. This causes damage to ligaments and muscle in your neck, but it takes a bit of time for your body to respond to the injury, and it is your body’s response (to try and mend the damage) that actually causes the pain.
      Your muscles will also get stiff and sore because they have been stretched a lot, and this is similar to what happens if you have done too much exercise! If your muscles are overstretched, the pain receptors in your muscles will get more sensitive and so respond to any little movement by sending a pain signal. This is so that you don’t move too much to let your muscles rest and heal!
      I hope this answers your question! 🙂

    • Photo: Sarah Martin

      Sarah Martin answered on 20 Jun 2012:

      Hi littlemisslaughter,

      I totally agree with Amy! But the best way to recover is to keep your neck moving as normally as possible. At first the pain may be bad, and you may need to rest the neck for a day or so. However, gently exercise the neck as soon as you are able, otherwise it’ll ‘stiffen up’. As far as possible, continue with normal activities. You will not cause damage to your neck by moving it.

      Hope you haven’t had it yourself!

      🙂 Sarah

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