As soon as the weather starts to chill, you probably begin planning your long list of winter activities. Skiing, snowboarding, sledding, snowmobiling, ice skating…the list goes on and on! These activities bring your entire family so much joy – who would ever take the time to consider possible injuries involved? While for the most part, fun is endless and the pains are minimal, it’s important to acknowledge some of the hidden possible injuries. One question that continually comes up is, “Can sledding give me whiplash?”
Whiplash is the more common term for neck strain, which means you’ve probably experienced a major impact, jar, or blow that caused your neck to spring forward to back or back to forward suddenly. This major movement is often associated with car accidents, but many injuries can result from less common incidents. To answer the question – yes, you can experience neck strain from a sledding incident.
Symptoms of whiplash can include:
- Difficulty moving your head from side to side
- Difficulty moving your head forward and back
- Stiffness in the neck muscles
- Pain in the neck muscles
- Tenderness
- Headaches or migraines
- Pain in the shoulders, arms, or back
These symptoms can develop immediately or within 24-48 hours after an incident. Age, health, physical fitness, and more can contribute to your susceptibleness to whiplash, but it can happen to anyone. Collisions are common when sledding, and while they may be funny, they can also cause some discomfort down the road.
Take care as your enjoy the winter weather!