Up to 2 in 5 people still have some symptoms 15 years after their injury.

 

 

 

 

 

Source:
Squires B, Gargan MF, Bannister GC.
Soft-tissue injuries of the cervical spine: 15-year follow-up.
Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, British Volume. 1996; 78: 955-957.

 

 

 

 

 

¹ We don't know why some people get more problems than others.

 

 

 

 

 

Source:
Spitzer WO, Skovron ML, Salmi LR, et al.
Scientific monograph of the Quebec Task Force on whiplash-associated disorders: redefining whiplash and it management.
Spine. 1995; 20: 1-73.

 

 

 

 

 

² But we know there are things that make some people more likely to have problems. These things are called risk factors. For example, not wearing a seat belt, having severe neck pain, having a history of neck pain, and being a woman all mean you're more likely to experience long-term symptoms.

 

 

 

 

 

Source:
Walton DM, Pretty J, MacDermid JC, et al.
Risk factors for persistent problems following whiplash injury: results of a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy. 2009; 39: 334-50.

 

 

 

 

 

³ Whiplash is more likely to cause disability than neck pain from other causes.

Strangely, one study found that when people with whiplash expect to get better quickly, they really do make a better recovery.

 

 

 

 

 

Source:
Holm LW, Carroll LJ, Cassidy JD, et al.
Expectations for recovery important in the prognosis of whiplash injuries.
PLoS Medicine. 2008; 5: 105.

 

 

 

 

 

⁴

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