CASE STUDY: WHIPLASH-ASSOCIATED DISORDERS IN FRONTAL IMPACTS: INFLUENCING FACTORS AND CONSEQUENCES

The purpose of this study was to provide an in-depth investigation of accidents using 24 occupants with neck symptoms to show the complexity of whiplash associated disorders (WAD) in frontal impacts that influence occurrence as well as duration of symptoms. The study identified several different occupant kinematics, such as sitting posture and behavior at the time of impact, and compared with occupants restrained only by a seatbelt, occupants with arm resistance influence showed a greater representative of symmetrical neck symptoms. Factors influencing the duration of symptoms were found to be neck posture related and physical as well as psychosocial factors, such as strong negative reactions, bad prognosis expectations, and a stressful personal situation.