Hyperextension of the neck (Whiplash)

Whiplash injury is a professional designation neck and cervical spine.

The whiplash occurs primarily in rear impacts. A car that nedobrzdil time, it runs into slower moving (or stationary) car in front of him. Its kinetic energy transmitted to the first vehicle and it is ejected forward. This rapid movement of the first vehicles will reverse the crew head back, then forward and then head back to their original position prior to impact. Neck muscles is not able to absorb shock. There is a sharp movement stretching the spine, muscles, nerves and blood vessels. Technically this is called whiplash injury.

The neck injury in rear-end collisions occur already at speeds above 10 km / h. This represents 95% of trauma injuries in rear impacts. Hyperextension has three levels of damage. First and lightest cases cause paralysis and pain in the neck. In the second case is severely limited range of motion of the neck (musculoskeletal symptoms). In the most severe cases, suffer from neurological problems.

mechanism of whiplash

How to prevent injury to the neck and cervical spine?
▪ setting correct seat back is upright
▪ properly adjusted head restraint distance between head and headrest should not exceed 4 cm, height of head should be the same height as the head
▪ head restraints on rear seats

What are active head restraints?
Active head restraints are a modern element of passive protection. The impact is closer to the head and shorten the distance from the rear struts. More information can be found here .

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