27/06/2022
Did you know?
Having your head turned at the time of impact in a car accident increases your risk of concussion?
Positioning of the head can change the mechanical strains that are placed on the brain and neck during an accident.
Having the head turned can make bracing for impact less effective, and having the head turned may add increased rotational forces into the brain on rear end collisions.
This is the suspected mechanism for how patients can have a concussion with a bad enough whiplash even though the head never actually gets hit.
Not only is concussion a problem with this mechanism, but there is also likely worse neck injury on this type of impact. Having the neck turned can place greater strain on ligaments in the neck and may place the position of the joints in a precarious place to absorb force.
