Whiplash injuries after hyperextension may heal poorly with symptoms that persist for years after injury. Which statement reflects this?

• A. False
• B. True
• C. Not sure
• D. Cannot conclude

Answer: (B)

Some whiplash injuries from hyperextension can heal poorly with long-lasting symptoms. The rapid acceleration-deceleration forces stretch and strain the neck’s soft tissues—muscles, ligaments, facet joint capsules, and discs. While many people improve within weeks to months, a notable subset develops persistent pain, headaches, dizziness, or sensory changes that can endure for years. This chronic course can arise from ongoing tissue damage, facet joint arthropathy, disc pathology, myofascial pain, and even central sensitization that keeps pain amplified beyond the initial injury. So the statement that healing may be poor with long-term symptoms is true. The alternative responses would contradict the observed possibility of chronic whiplash outcomes, which is why this option best fits the evidence.