What is Whiplash and how to adjust your head restraint?

What is Whiplash?

Whiplash, although officially classed as a minor injury, can lead to long painful and debilitating symptoms for many years. Not uncommon in frontal and side crashes, whiplash most often occurs in low speed, rear crashes. The injury mechanism of whiplash is poorly understood, so it is the subject of intense global research. Recent work has focused on the possibility of nerve damage in the spinal canal, face and joints due to the rapid acceleration of the body relative to the head.

Mild symptoms involve stiffness and tenderness of the muscles in the upper back and neck, headaches and dizziness. Such cases are classed as short term and can last up to three months. More serious, long term cases can involve permanent impairment, neurological and musculoskeletal injures. Whiplash is difficult to diagnose and difficult to treat, and is also expensive. Soft tissue neck injuries currently cost British insurers nearly £2 billion annually and account for over 80% of the total cost of personal injury claims.

How to Adjust Your Head Restraint

To be effective, a head restraint must be as close to the back of the head as possible (touching is best) and the top of the restraint should be as high as the top of the head. Remember it is a head restraint, not a headrest.

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