The sudden acceleration and deceleration of the head and neck during a whiplash injury commonly damages soft tissues such as muscles, tendons, and ligaments. However, among the most frequently injured structures are the facet joints. In fact, research suggests that approximately half of neck pain cases—including those unrelated to whiplash—involve the facet joints. Why are these joints so vulnerable during whiplash?
Except for the C1 vertebra (the atlas), each cervical vertebra from C2 to C7 features paired superior and inferior facet joints that articulate with the vertebrae above and below. These joints allow for controlled movement in flexion and extension…
