Whiplash occurs due to a sprain or strain affecting the ligaments and muscles of the neck. 

 This injury typically occurs due to a sudden acceleration followed by rapid deceleration, resulting in stretching and damage to the neck's structural components such as joints, muscles, tendons, and ligaments. 

Consequently, individuals often experience pain and stiffness as hallmark symptoms of whiplash.

In contrast, a concussion involves the rapid acceleration and subsequent deceleration of the brain within the skull. 

Unlike whiplash, where structural damage manifests in the form of microtears commonly found in strained muscles or ligaments, concussions primarily affect the brain's neurons. 

Stretching of these neurons alters their molecular balance, leading to transient neurological symptoms such as confusion, blurred vision, and dizziness. Despite this molecular imbalance normalizing within 24 hours, the body expends considerable energy, notably ATP, to restore equilibrium.

Even after full metabolic recovery from a concussion, lingering symptoms may persist, raising questions about their origin. 

 Here, whiplash enters the picture. Research indicates that while whiplash occurs at significantly lower G-forces (4.5 G) compared to concussions (70-120 G), there exists a substantial overlap between the two. 

While some whiplash injuries may exhibit features of concussion, all concussions entail elements of whiplash due to the lower G-forces involved.

The intricate network of joints, muscles, tendons, and ligaments in the neck, collectively known as the cervical spine, plays a crucial role in post-concussion symptoms. Following a whiplash injury, tight muscles and restricted joint mobility disrupt the proper functioning of mechanoreceptors—nerves responsible for spatial awareness. 

This miscommunication between the neck and the brain can result in a myriad of symptoms, including headaches, dizziness, cognitive fatigue, difficulty concentrating, vestibular dysfunction, and neck pain.

A study by “Yadla et al in 2007” showed that if a diagnosis clinician was blinded to the patient’s injury and only relied on reported symptoms they could not distinguish between a concussion and a whiplash injury.