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Take the Whiplash Quiz!

While most people are familiar with the term whiplash and generally know that it's primarily a consequence of motorvehicle accidents, you may be surprised to learn how easily a whiplash injury can occur and how severe the consequences can be. Take this short quiz and then check your answers.

A 1-5 mph
B 6-12 mph
C 10-25 mph
D 15-30 mph

Question 2: According to early human crash testing (conducted at UCLA) that simulated real-world rear-impact collisions, how does the human head respond to a crash compared to the vehicle?

A The volunteer's head was subjected to 2 1/2 times the acceleration of the vehicle.
B The volunteer's head was subjected to about 1/2 the acceleration of the vehicle.
C The volunteer's acceleration was roughly equivalent to stepping off a curb.
D In low-speed collisions (under 8 mph), no acceleration of the human head can be measured.

Question 3: Regarding the outcome of whiplash injuries, which of the following statements is most accurate?

A The vast majority of whiplash injuries resolve in about six weeks.
B The vast majority of whiplash injuries resolve in 6-12 weeks.
C About 25-50 percent of whiplash injuries fail to resolve completely.
D Whiplash injuries rarely resolve completely.

Question 4: Of the following variables, which is considered to be a risk factor for poor outcome in whiplash trauma?

A Female gender.
B Advanced age.
C Nonawareness of impending impact.
D All the above have been shown to be risk factors for poor outcome.

Source: Croft A. "Whiplash Quiz: Test Your Knowledge." Dynamic Chiropractic, Aug. 11, 1997 (www.dynamicchiropractic.com).

Perry Nickelston, DC, is clinical director of the Pain Laser Center in Ramsey, N.J., where he focuses on performance enhancement, corrective exercise and metabolic fitness nutrition To learn more about Dr. Nickelston, visit www.painlasercenter.com/Our_Practice.html.