Faculty Collaboration Database

Whiplash-Associated Disorders: Occupant Kinematics and Neck Morphology. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2016 Oct;46(10):834-844

Date

10/04/2016

Pubmed ID

27690838

DOI

10.2519/jospt.2016.6846

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-84991234193 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   18 Citations

Abstract

Synopsis Despite considerable research effort, the incidence of whiplash injury during automotive collisions has continued to rise. This is due, at least in part, to a limited recognition of biomechanical injury mechanisms and factors influencing injury risk. While automotive safety modifications reduced injury risk in some cases, impact on the overall whiplash incidence was limited. This is likely attributable to significant occupant-related differences that have a profound impact on injury risk. Many of those differences were outlined in research studies, and examples include female sex and the associated sex-based anthropometrical variation that can affect seating orientation; cervical spinal posture; and anatomical attributes, including cervical column slenderness and neck muscle morphometry. This review highlights these anatomical attributes and explains, based on biomechanical concepts, the method by which these attributes may alter cervical spine response during automotive rear impacts to affect injury risk. The biomechanical explanations are based on existing studies that have incorporated postmortem human subjects, computational models, and anthropomorphic test devices (ie, crash test dummies), as well as medical imaging in human volunteers. These biomechanical explanations may provide improved understanding of injury risk. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2016;46(10):834-844. doi:10.2519/jospt.2016.6846.

Author List

Stemper BD, Corner BD

Author

Brian Stemper PhD Professor in the Biomedical Engineering department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Accidents, Traffic
Age Factors
Biomechanical Phenomena
Cervical Vertebrae
Female
Head
Humans
Life Style
Male
Neck
Neck Muscles
Posture
Seat Belts
Whiplash Injuries