Common causes of whiplash injury - Sports and leisure activities
The Quebec Task Force, a study on Whiplash-Associated Disorders (WADs), described whiplash and its causes in the following way:
"Whiplash is an acceleration-deceleration mechanism of energy transfer to the neck. It may result from rear-end or side-impact motor vehicle collisions, but can also occur during diving and other mishaps. The impact may result in bony or soft-tissue injuries (whiplash injury), this in turn may lead to a variety of clinical manifestations (Whiplash-Associated Disorders). Read an overview of whiplash injury.
Although car accidents are the major cause of whiplash injury they are not the only one. Contact sports and martial arts have fairly high whiplash incidence rates whereas motor sports have taken preventative action against whiplash injury.
Contact sports and whiplash injury
Contact sports can cause a number of personal injuries including whiplash injury. It is not uncommon for football players and rugby players to suffer Whiplash Associated Disorders.
29% of all injuries suffered by rugby-union players are head and neck injuries, 59% of which are suffered while tackling or being tackled.
Martial arts and whiplash injury
Those that take part in martial arts are also at risk of Whiplash Associated Disorders. In 2005 a team of UK researchers assessed the potential risk of soft tissue injuries to the neck area as a result of the following manoeuvres:
- O goshi (judo), in which the fighter uses his shoulders to swing the opponent over his hips.
- The suplex (jujitsu), in which the fighter grabs the opponent around the waist and lifts him up over his shoulder to fall forwards onto his face.
- The souplesse, a variant of the suplex, in which the opponent is rotated and slammed down onto his back.
- The guillotine drop (a choke hold)
They found that these common manoeuvres have motion forces that can cause serious cervical injury such as whiplash. Read more about signs and symptoms of whiplash injury.
For more details on this study visit SportsInjuryBulletin
Racing drivers and whiplash injury
Racing drivers travel at speeds of well over 100mph, experiencing numerous crashes during their driving careers but often manage to escape their cars wrecks without sustaining the slightest injuries. This is because they have first rate protection, particularly from whiplash injury.
Their cars are fitted with the Head And Neck Support (Hans) system, which features a carbon fibre collar connected to their upper body with straps that attach to the helmet. It works by keeping the head in a stable position in the event of an accident.
Making a whiplash injury claim today
If you have suffered a whiplash injury as the result of a leisure activity, sports accident or any other non-fault accident then you may be entitled to make a personal injury claim.
Our personal injury solicitors can provide you with free legal advice and take you through each step of the claim, working with you to achieve the most compensation available for your type of injury.
We have a no win no fee policy and will take great care to protect you from all costs, whether you win or lose your case.
Making a compensation claim following a whiplash injury couldn’t be simpler. Just fill out one of our online forms or call 0800 197 32 32.
