Lumbar Spine Range of Motion after Whiplash Injury

Whiplash is the common denominator of a syndrome consisting of several disorders affecting different body areas, termed whiplash-associated disorders. One of the most common such disorders in low back pain. While the occurrence of low back pain following whiplash is well known, little is known regarding the effect of whiplash on spinal range of motion. The current study quantitatively assessed this effect.

A cohort of 156 patients at least one year after a whiplash injury was evaluated for the accident mechanics, radiological findings and lumbar flexion range. 60.2% of the patients had associated low back pain. About one third of the cohort developed the low back pain only after the accident. The lumbar flexion range was lower in this cohort than in whiplash patients without low back pain. Low back pain is particularly common following head-on and sideways injury mechanisms.

In conclusion, it appears that whiplash associated low back pain is often accompanied by a decreased range of motion of the lumbar spine.