WHIPLASH INJURY - SOME CONTINUING PROBLEMS

Whiplash injury, described in 1953, poses continuing problems. They in clude the following: the increased incidence of whiplash injury despit e the addition of head rests, factors apart from the injury that are r esponsible for continuing symptoms; patients copying one another (soci al copying); physicians copying parts of articles without comprehendin g the whole context; the lack of studies in a relatively unselected po pulation, the need to balance symptoms with signs; the need to provide a rational diagnosis based upon the common course of whiplash injury rather than upon the most difficult cases seen by specialists; and the error of overtreatment, which creates patient dependence. Whiplash in jury encompasses physical, social and psychologic features, and for it s understanding more careful reasearch and wider vision are needed.