Does your shape and size influence your risk of whiplash?

Age

The highest incidence of RTA in both sexes is in the age group between 36-50 years. In females the age group over 65 had the highest fatality and amongst males the highest fatality were more dispersed with highest in ages between 21-25 and also over 65

 The effects of age on recovery of neck pain have been considered in a numerous studies. There does not appear to be specific age that is more vulnerable to persistent disability as illustrated by Linder who identified that females are more likely to have longer-term symptoms in the age range 35-4 and males are more likely to have longer-term symptoms over the age of 65 

Gender

The effect of gender on outcome is variable with whiplash but when dealing with fatal accidents the fatality rates in males is higher then in females.

Crash test studies with female volunteers do however recognise that the dynamic responses in a female and male volunteers does differ in rear impact scenarios. Females had lower but earlier peak accelerations of the head and lower and peak angular displacement of the head and a more pronounced rebound motion.

 >Females are 1.8 to 2.2 times more at risk of whiplash injury in all types of collisions than men.

>Fifty-five percent of females who sustained whiplash injuries are susceptible to develop long-term symptoms compared with 38 percent of males? (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety 2009).

>Female risk was increased in a rear passenger seat position 

 Height

 Height is a risk factor among females for neck injury. Shorter people often are protected by unadjusted head restraints.

Stature not as significant role in the severity of injury among males (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety 2009).

Ommaya et al reported that persons under 5ft height has a 40% risk of neck injury. Shorter drivers are at less risk of ramping up the seat however at greater risk of the shoulder harness contact with the soft tissue of the neck

 Body Mass

 Persons with a BMI>30 injured in motor vehicle crashes have a greater risk of fatality and of lesser injuries, require longer hospital stays, have a higher complication rate, primarily pulmonary and thromboembolism.

Crash tests conducted with normal weight and obese cadavers has demonstrated that the obese cadavers often come out of their seats. This may occur for a couple of reasons beyond the force issue. First, because the lap belt is far anterior to the anterior iliac spine, the primary anchor for stopping the occupant, this adipose and other soft tissue must be compressed before the lap belt can effectively exert a restraining force. This allows the occupant to move forward several inches depending on the degree of obesity. This also increases the risk for contact between the knees and the knee bolster and dangerous proximity to an airbag deployment.

 Persons with greater body mass usually react more violently with their seat back and headrest. They experience lower levels of acceleration as a result however they may experience greater degrees of neck extension.

However despite these observed effects there appears to be no impact of BMI to the long term outcome of WAD