What is whiplash?

Whiplash is an injury to your muscles, tendons or other soft tissues of your neck. It is caused when your head moves suddenly in one direction and then quickly back. It is a common injury during a motor vehicle accident.

When your neck is forced beyond its usual range of movement, it can stretch or sprain the soft tissues such as muscles and tendons. This causes pain and discomfort in your neck and shoulders.

What are the symptoms of whiplash?

You may have no symptoms after a whiplash injury, or your symptoms may be severe. The symptoms can begin immediately after the injury or take several hours or even days to show up.

Common symptoms of whiplash include:

• pain or tenderness in your neck, shoulders and back
• headache
• stiffness and difficulty moving your neck normally

In cases of more serious whiplash injury, nerve symptoms may be present. They include:

• dizziness or feeling light-headed
• numbness, weakness or 'pins and needles' in your arms or shoulders
• difficulty concentrating
• difficulty swallowing or changes in your hearing, sight or smell

Difficulty sleeping, fatigue, depression and anxiety are also possible symptoms of whiplash.

Your symptoms are likely to improve within a few weeks. Sometimes they may take several months to go away completely.

What causes whiplash?

Whiplash injuries are commonly caused by motor vehicle accidents, but they can also happen after falls or diving accidents.

It happens when your head and neck move suddenly and quickly in one direction, and then back just as fast.

When should I see my doctor?

If you have neck pain after a traumatic accident, you should be checked by a doctor as soon as possible. Some symptoms may not appear straight away, even if you feel well at first.

Your doctor will examine you and advise about treatment.

When should I seek urgent care?

Seek urgent care if you have symptoms after an accident, such as:

• dizziness or feeling light-headed
• numbness, weakness or 'pins and needles' in your arms, shoulders or legs
• difficulty swallowing or changes in your hearing, sight or smell
• loss of bowel (poo) or bladder (urine) control

These could be signs of more serious injury and need urgent medical care.

If you need to see your doctor but cannot wait for an appointment, you may be able to get treatment at a Medicare Urgent Care Clinic. Use the Service Finder to find your nearest one.

How is whiplash diagnosed?

Your doctor will examine you. Your doctor will:

• check you for pain, stiffness and tenderness
• check your neurological (nerve) signs, such as your reflexes, any muscle weakness or problems related to hearing
• ask you about any effects on your daily activities, if you get headaches and if your driving is affected
• check for broken bones or dislocations

Imaging tests are usually not needed. Your doctor may arrange a neck x-ray and occasionally other imaging such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT) scan if they think you may have a broken bone or a spinal cord injury.

How is whiplash treated?

There are things you can do to help your injury get better.

Stay active

While you are recovering from whiplash, try to stay active. Continue your normal activities as much as you can. Try to avoid doing activities that hurt your neck. You may need to do some activities differently than normal, so you don't strain your injury.

Pain relief medicines

If you are in pain, get advice from your doctor or pharmacist on pain relief medicines. Some over-the-counter pain medicines include paracetamol and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (known as NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen.

Your doctor might recommend and prescribe stronger pain medicines such as opioids for more serious pain. Ask your doctor how long to take them and when to stop.

Physiotherapy

Physiotherapists commonly use exercise-based treatment, sometimes combined with manual therapy, to improve neck movement and reduce pain.

They can also teach you how to exercise without causing further injury.

What are the complications of whiplash?

Serious whiplash injuries can damage your nerves or cause neck fractures or dislocations.

Most people fully recover from a whiplash injury. Some people may have ongoing pain and can develop chronic pain.

You may also experience depression or post-traumatic stress symptoms.

Your doctor can guide you on treatment options for these complications.

Can whiplash be prevented?

Many whiplash injuries come from motor vehicle accidents. Following safe driving rules helps prevent accidents and injuries. It's important to know and follow your state or territory's driving rules, such as avoiding:

• speeding
• driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol
• using your phone while driving

Always wear your seatbelt when driving or travelling as a passenger.

Read about car safety for babies and children.

Resources and support

• The My Whiplash Navigator is an online program that has information about whiplash and self-guided exercises to support your recovery.
• Read more on what to do if you have a whiplash injury, including exercises for whiplash, in the Whiplash Injury Recovery, A Self Help Guide from the University of Queensland, published by The Motor Accident Insurance Commission (MAIC).
• New South Wales State Insurance Regulatory Authority (SIRA) has information and videos of exercises you can do following a whiplash injury.

Languages other than English

SIRA has information about whiplash injury in many languages other than English.