Research Articles
Archived Articles

Whipping whiplash: Changes in treatment, new car head restraints may hasten recovery
November 6, 2001
www.seattletimes.com
By Judith Blake
Seattle Times staff reporter

It's a real pain in the neck.

And it visits an estimated 800,000 Americans every year. That's how many get whiplash injuries, usually from rear-end collisions on the highway.

Unfortunately, you could easily find yourself joining them, given that our highways annually see an estimated 3 million rear-enders and 6.2 million accidents of all kinds.

For more information Contact the University of Washington Whiplash Research Center at 206-543-3387 or http:// depts.washington.edu/wads.

If whiplash visits you, here's some of what it could whip up: neck pain and stiffness, headaches, shoulder pain, low-back pain, dizziness, muscle spasms, numbness in an arm or hand, ringing in the ears, sleep disturbances and irritability. Not to mention frustration, disabling pain, lost work days, even depression, when these symptoms settle in for a long stay.

The problem is not being ignored, however. Experts are seeking better ways to prevent or deal with whiplash. Some of what's happening:

Click here to read the rest of the article

Judith Blake can be reached at 206-464-2349 or jblake@seattletimes.com.