Acceleration - deceleration injuries : ‘ Whiplash Syndrome

‘Whiplash syndrome’ is a term commonly used to describe hyperflexion, hyperextension and other injuries to the spine, and, in particular, to the cervical region. It is not a universally accepted term, however, is commonly used in medical and legal settings. Cailliet (1991) reports that the term’‘whiplash’ was first coined by Dr. Harold Crowe (1928), who noted that acceleration-deceleration resulting from an external impact had a ‘lashlike effect’ in the neck and upper body. The term has since come to be commonly (and often inappropriately) used to describe a variety of tissue insults, which produce a collection of symptoms resulting from mechanical and tissue damage. The term ‘acceleration-deceleration injury’ or more specific terms detailing the exact nature of the injury are better substituted for the more controversial term ‘whiplash’ as it is ill-defined and non-specific. These types of traumas are most often associated with automobile collisions, however, they can also result from falls, bicycle accidents, horse riding injuries and a host of other sporting and recreational occurrences. For simplicity, the automobile collision is the point of reference for this article, although any of these sources of injury could easily be the focus of discussion.