Motor vehicle injury (MVI) is a huge concern throughout the United States health care system. People are brought in to the Emergency Room every day with injuries caused by motor vehicle accidents. In the United States, Motor vehicle injury among children burden the health care resources with an estimated $2 billion annually. Globally, approximately 1.2 million people are killed in motor vehicle accidents each year and as many as 50 million are injured. Unless there is further intervention to prevent these road injuries, studies indicate that these injuries will increase 65% over the next 20 years (WHO 2007).

Of all the injuries associated with motor vehicle accidents, chronic whiplash-associated disorder (WAD) represents the most common medical and psycho-social problem. Typically, whiplash presents with mild neck stiffness and soreness. Patients can also have an associated post traumatic stress disorder. In 2005, physicians studied if the acute stress reaction following a whiplash injury predicted long-term consequences.

Their results demonstrate that both physical and psychological factors play a role in recovery or non-recovery from whiplash injury. This may assist in the development of more relevant treatment methods for acute whiplash (Sterling 2005). When traveling at a high speed, your body suddenly stops during a car collision.

This produces a significant amount of stress on one’s body. Most often, neck muscle and soft tissue straining occurs. In other cases, other injuries may occur including bone fractures, ligament tears, head injuries, internal bleeding, abrasions, and spinal cord injury.