Diagnosing whiplash can sometimes be a challenge, especially because some of the symptoms are still not completely understood by doctors. If you think you are experiencing whiplash, however, your physician will most likely use a combination of historical evaluation, physical examination, and imaging techniques.

As with most appointments, your physician will want to know your medical history, as well as that of your family. A description of the events that caused your whiplash symptoms will also be necessary, along with a physical examination of your neck and shoulder region. Your physician will probably spend some time palpating (or touching) the affected region and examining to see if there are any visible misalignments. Range of motion and muscle strength may be assessed by moving the affected area in physician-directed movements. If your symptoms involve tingling or numbness in your arms and legs, your physician may test your reflexes.

A majority of whiplash cases involve strain and damage to the soft tissues of the neck—structures like muscles, tendons, discs, and nerves. These tissues, although crucial, do not typically show up on traditional X-rays. Your doctor may prescribe an MRI  to look at soft tissues and/or CT scan to rule out any bone fractures. These imaging techniques also allow for the visualization of any injuries to intervertebral discs. Bone CT scans, although used less often, may be employed to look for small fractures that are not easily detected by more common imaging methods.