Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 21, 2026

A Test Bed to Examine Helmet Fit and Retention and Biomechanical Measures of Head and Neck Injury in Simulated Impact
Published on: September 21, 2017
Qualitative analysis of neck kinematics during low-speed rear-end impact
1Bioengineering Center, Wayne State University, 818 W. Hancock, Detroit, MI 48202, USA.
Objective:
To analyze neck kinematics and loading patterns during rear-end impacts.
Design:
The motion of each cervical vertebra was captured using a 250 frame/s X-ray system during a whole body rear-end impact. These data were analyzed in order to understand different phases of neck loading during rear-end impact.
Background:
The mechanism of whiplash injury remains largely unknown. An understanding of the underlying kinematics of whiplash is crucial to the identification of possible injury mechanisms before countermeasures can be designed.
Methods:
Metallic markers were inserted into the vertebral bodies and spinous processes of each of the seven cervical vertebrae. Relative displacement-time traces between each pair of adjacent cervical vertebrae were calculated from X-ray data. Qualitative analyses of the kinematics of the neck at different phase of impact were performed.
Results:
The neck experiences compression, tension, shear, flexion and extension at different cervical levels and/or during different stages of the whiplash event.
Conclusions:
Neck kinematics during whiplash is rather complicated and greatly influenced by the rotation of the thoracic spine, which occurs as a result of the straightening of the kyphotic thoracic curvature.
Relevance:
Understanding the complicated kinematics of a rear-end impact may help clinicians and researchers shed some light on potential mechanisms of whiplash neck injury.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Rotation with Constant Angular Acceleration - II
The first...
Relative Motion Analysis - Velocity
When an external force is exerted, it sets the crank into a rotational movement. This, in turn, instigates the motion of the connecting rod, leading to what is referred to as a general plane motion. This process involves two key points - point A on the connecting rod...
Relative Motion Analysis using Rotating Axes-Problem Solving
Here, in order to determine the magnitude of velocity and acceleration for point...
Kinematic Equations for Rotation
For instance, imagine a point A on a rigid body engaged in circular motion. The translational velocity of this particular point can be calculated by taking the time derivatives of the displacement equation, which essentially measures the...
Relative Motion Analysis - Acceleration
Relative Motion Analysis using Rotating Axes - Acceleration
Time differentiation is...

