What is whiplash? Whiplash is a fancy name for a neck injury and happens when the head suddenly jerks forward and then, backwards. Although it's usually associated with car accidents, any impact or blow that causes your head to jerk forward or backward can cause neck strain/whiplash. The sudden force stretches and tears the muscles and tendons in your neck.

When a person suffers from whiplash they may have:

• A decreased range of motion, and tightness in the neck; muscles may feel hard or knotted.
• Pain when rocking the head from side to side or backward and forward.
• Tenderness in the neck and shoulders.
• Headaches at the base of the skull that radiate towards the forehead.

In many cases, pain may take up to several hours to appear in the neck area. Concussions can also occur in whiplash cases. A person should visit a chiropractic doctor right away if feeling any pain in the neck and shoulders after a car accident.

A solution for treating whiplash could be as easy as icing your neck to reduce pain and swelling. This should be done for about half an hour about four times a day for a few days after a car accident. After the swelling has gone down after icing, put heat or warm, hot towels on the affected region to help loosen the muscles.

The most important way to help prevent more serious injuries to your body is to pay attention to how you feel. If you feel any pain or discomfort while doing an activity, it is a warning that there could be something wrong. Just stop what you are doing and do not try to solve the problem on your own.