These injuries are often difficult to diagnose.
Symptoms are subjective and variable.
In many cases, their precise etiology is not known. The onset of symptoms may occur anywhere from minutes to days, weeks or even months after the initial traumatic event, further complicating the diagnostic task. Accurate diagnosis of whiplash depends on the ability and judgment of the physician, and the honest participation of the patient. Detailed examinations of the cervical spine, shoulders and arms may reveal skin tenderness, muscle spasm, sensory changes and other signs of whiplash-related injury. In most cases, relatively few symptoms appear immediately following a whiplash injury.