| Disease | Injury | Nutrition | Poison |
| Special Topic | Surgery | Symptoms | Test |
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Whiplash |
| Definition: |
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Whiplash is an injury to the soft tissues of the neck that occurs from a sudden jerking or "whipping" of the head. |
| Considerations: |
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Whiplash often occurs when a person is in a vehicle that stops suddenly, such as in a crash. For example, if a car is hit head-on, it abruptly stops moving, which causes anything in the vehicle to be thrown forward -- including passengers. If a person is restrained by a seat belt, the body is not thrown forward but the head may snap forward, then backward, causing whiplash injury in the neck. |
| Causes: |
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Causes of whiplash include roller coasters and other amusement park rides, sports injuries, or being punched or shaken. (Whiplash is one of the hallmarks of shaken baby syndrome.) |
Reviewed By: A.D.A.M. editorial. Previous review: Benjamin D. Roye, M.D., M.P.H., Department of Orthopaedics, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. (6/6/2001).
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