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Whiplash
Whiplash is the injury that follows the head being thrown rapidly back and forth — usually a motor vehicle accident, sometimes a sporting collision or a heavy fall. Symptoms frequently do not peak until a day or two afterwards, which catches people out and delays treatment. Early guided movement gives the best outcomes; resting the neck in a collar is no longer the advice.
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Does this sound like you?
Most people have several of these, not all of them.
- Neck pain and stiffness arriving hours to days after the incident, not immediately
- Headache, usually starting at the base of the skull
- Pain spreading into the shoulders and upper back
- Dizziness, unsteadiness or visual disturbance
- Poor sleep, difficulty concentrating and irritability through the early weeks
- Jaw pain, which is common after whiplash and often missed
Why it happens
- Rear-end and side-impact collisions, including at low speed
- Contact sport tackles and heavy falls
- Any sudden force taking the head beyond its normal range
- Being unprepared for the impact, which allows more movement before the muscles react
What we would do about it
Roughly in this order — each step waits for the one before it.
- Assessment first, to rule out anything requiring urgent attention
- Gentle range of movement started early rather than immobilising the neck
- Manual therapy to the joints and muscles once they tolerate it
- Deep neck flexor retraining, reliably affected after a whiplash injury
- Balance and eye-movement retraining where dizziness is part of the picture
- A staged return to work, driving and sport with realistic timeframes
- Documentation and progress reporting where a CTP insurance claim requires it
See a doctor first if
- Your pain followed a significant injury
- It is getting worse rather than settling
- It comes with numbness, weakness or unexplained weight loss
This page is general information, not a diagnosis. Symptoms overlap between conditions, so the right treatment depends on an assessment.
After an accident, earlier assessment means a shorter recovery
If you have been in a collision — even a minor one — get the neck looked at before symptoms settle in. We can start treatment straight away and handle the reporting your insurer needs. Ask a question first, or call us on 0403 907 587.
New patient? Choose Initial Consultation. Your assessment is free, and treatment is $49 when you book your second session, otherwise $98. Offer terms
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Related reading: the headaches that often follow a whiplash injury, sudden neck locking and jaw pain, which frequently comes with it.
General information only, not advice about your own problem — nothing here replaces an assessment. Source: Whiplash Associated Disorders on Physiopedia.
