Just One Simple Thing to Minimize Chance of Whiplash Injury
Dr. Barry Marks, Chiropractor and Car Accident Injury Expert
Orange, CA
Dr. Marks Reveals Research That Can Drastically Reduce Your Chances of Whiplash in a Rear End Collision
An overlooked part of your car. While you may look upon this one piece of equipment in your car as simply cosmetic, it is actually safety equipment. It’s not a selling point of most cars, unless you drive a Volvo. Nonetheless, it is something to fix right away after reading this.
I present to you, the humble Head Restraint.
That cushioned object that sits atop your seat you call a Head Rest, is actually a Restraint. Let’s look further.
Vehicle Head Restraints
The head restraint has evolved over the years. In the 60’s-70’s it was more cosmetic than functional. In fact, they were so poorly designed and nobody knew how to adjust them so they were a leading cause of whiplash neck injuries back then.
The function of the head restraint is to restrain the head from whipping back too far during a collision, mostly rear-impacts.
When you are struck from behind, your vehicle and seat are pushed forward while your head remains still momentarily. As the seat moves forward the head restraint is supposed to contact the head. During the first milliseconds of a rear impact, your torso and neck ramp upwards telescoping your neck and your head rotates backward. If the head restraint is fitted properly, your head is caught quickly and not allowed to over stretch.
Improper Head Restraint Alignment Causes Injuries
Too Low
When the restraint is too low, it cannot catch the head and the head goes beyond the restraint causing excess stretching of the neck. This causes muscle, ligament, disc and nerve injury. If it’s too low, the restraint works like a fulcrum and actually intensifies neck injuries.
Too Far
Even if the head restraint is adjusted to the proper height, if it is too far from the head then more neck and concussions occur. If the head is more than 4″ away from the restraint at impact, the head is subjected to a striking or slapping of the head against the head restraint. More injuries occur.
How to Properly Adjust Your Head Restraint
Height
The top of the head restraint should be at or above the height of your head. When your neck telescopes up, the head restraint is still able to catch your head properly.
Distance
Optimal distance is 0-2″ but as long as you are less than 4″ away, your head and neck are protected. Tilt the head restraint until it touches or nearly touches your head. You may have to adjust the reclining position in conjunction with the headrest tilt to achieve optimal distance.
What if Your Vehicle Can’t Be Fitted Properly?
Non-moveable Head Restraint
In this case, you cannot adjust the height, but most seats like this have accounted for that by making the seat back taller than average. Unless you are super tall, you should be ok.
But you still need to minimize distance and the seat head restraints do not tilt. Instead try different reclining angles, for most people that means less recline and sitting straighter (which is better any way).
Head Restraint Not Tall Enough
If you are tall and have the seat adjusted as high as it can go and it’s still not tall enough, then do the best you can and focus on distance. Optimal distance between your head and the seat back will still cut down on whiplash risk.
Minimize Your Risk for Car Accident Whiplash Injury by properly positioning your seat’s head restraint.
You cannot control how other people drive. Your head restraint position is one key factor you do have control over.
If You’ve Been in an Accident in Orange County and Need Help, Get in Touch with
Dr. Barry Marks, DC Today
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References:
National Institutes of Health (NIH) | (.gov)
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov › articles › PMC1285552
by F Morris · 1989 · Cited by 42 — A significant increase in the incidence of whiplash was found in patients whose vehicles did not have head-restraints fitted.
ResearchGate
https://www.researchgate.net › … › Whiplash Injuries
Nov 21, 2024 — Farmer et al. found that active head restraints which moved higher and closer to the occupant’s head during rear-end collisions reduced injury …
