When another vehicle hits you from behind, your vehicle and torso are pushed forward very quickly. Your head, however, tends to lag behind your body for a brief moment.

This creates a rapid sequence of movements in the cervical spine:

1. Your torso is pushed forward.
The seat moves into your body, causing your torso to accelerate forward.

2. Your head initially lags behind.
Because your head has its own momentum, it doesn't move forward at exactly the same time as your torso.

3. Your neck changes position rapidly.
The cervical spine can temporarily move through an abnormal S-shaped motion before the head is accelerated forward.

4. Your head catches up with your body.
The neck then moves rapidly in the opposite direction, producing the characteristic "whip-like" motion associated with whiplash.

This sudden movement can place stress on the muscles, ligaments, joints, discs and other tissues of the neck.



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