Article
Clinical response of human subjects to rear-end automobile collisions,☆☆

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0003-9993(98)90212-XGet rights and content

Abstract

Objective: Forty-two persons were exposed to controlled low-speed rear-end automobile collisions to assess the relation between both gender and impact severity and the presence, severity, and duration of whiplash-associated disorders (WAD). Individual measures were also assessed for their potential to predict the onset of WAD.

Design: Experimental study subjecting individuals to a speed change of 4km/h and 8km/h and utilizing pretest and posttest physical examinations (immediately after and 24 hours after impact) to quantify subjects' clinical response.

Results: Approximately 29% and 38% of the subjects exposed to the 4km/h and 8km/h speed changes, respectively, experienced WAD symptoms, with cervical symptoms and headaches predominating. Objective clinical deficits consistent with WAD were measured in both men and women subjects at both 4km/h and 8km/h. At 4km/h, the duration of symptoms experienced by women was significantly longer when compared with that in men (p < .05). There were no significant differences in the presence and severity of WAD between men and women at 4km/h and 8km/h or in the duration of WAD at 8km/h. There was also no significant difference in the presence, severity, and duration of WAD between 4km/h and 8km/h. No preimpact measures were predictive of WAD.

Conclusion: The empirical findings in this study contribute to establishing a causal relationship between rear-end collisions and clinical signs and symptoms.

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      Muscle physiology has established that for a given strain, an increased level of muscle activation results in greater muscle damage, the severity of which can increase with impact severity.6,7 Hence, it was concluded that muscle activity during whiplash motion is likely to cause injurious muscular effects.8–10 The aim of the present study was to gauge the extent of cervical muscle involvement under realistic impact conditions.

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    Supported in part by the Technology BC Investments in Research and Development and administered by the Science Council of British Columbia.

    ☆☆

    The authors have chosen not to select a disclosure statement.

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