What type of injury is classified as "whiplash"?

Whiplash is classified as a strain because it typically involves the soft tissues of the neck, particularly the muscles and tendons, being stretched or torn due to a sudden jerking motion. This injury commonly occurs in rear-end automobile collisions where the force causes the head to snap backward and then forward, leading to pain and discomfort in the neck. The symptoms can include stiffness, pain, and reduced mobility, all of which highlight the nature of strain injuries, which affect the muscle fibers and surrounding connective tissues.

In contrast, fractures refer to breaks in bones, contusions are bruises from direct blows to muscles or skin, and sprains involve the overstretching or tearing of ligaments that connect bones at a joint. Therefore, whiplash aligns with the characteristics of a strain due to its impact on the soft tissues of the neck without involving bone fractures or ligament damage.