ORIGINAL RESEARCH article
Front. Bioeng. Biotechnol.
Sec. Biomechanics
A Multimodal Approach for Assessing the Risk of Cervical Spine Injury in Low-speed Rear-end Collisions: Kinematic and Clinical Responses
Provisionally accepted
Hee Young LEE1
Kang Hyun LEE1Oh Hyun KIM1Hyunjung KIM2Chan Young KANG1Guan Hee KIM3Nam Hyeong KIM3Hyun YOUK1*- 1Wonju College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Wonju, Republic of Korea
- 2Wonju Severance Christian Hospital, Wonju-si, Republic of Korea
- 3Korea Insurance Development Institute, Icheon, Republic of Korea
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Purpose: While advancements in vehicle safety have reduced injury severity in low-speed collisions, concerns about excessive treatment costs and the social implications of minor collisions persist. Cervical spine injuries, in particular, remain challenging to assess despite minimal vehicle damage. This study aimed to establish objective criteria for evaluating cervical spine injury risk in low-speed rear-end collisions and determine whether such injuries occur at impact velocities up to 8 km/h. Methods: Sixteen volunteers underwent controlled rear-end collisions using passenger vehicles and bumper cars at impact velocities ranging from 1.54 to 8.86 km/h. Kinematic parameters—including velocity change (ΔV), peak acceleration, and neck injury criteria (NIC)—were recorded. Cervical MRI scans were obtained pre-and post-collision, while electromyography (EMG) and nerve conduction studies (NCS) assessed neuromuscular function. Pain questionnaires were administered immediately after the test and one week later. Results: Impact velocity, offset percentage, and collision type significantly influenced acceleration forces and NIC values, with passenger vehicle collisions generating higher forces than bumper car collisions. Post-collision MRI scans showed no structural cervical spine damage, and no EMG or NCS abnormalities were detected. While 58.3% of participants reported immediate post-collision pain, this decreased to 25% within a week, primarily affecting the cervical spine and lower back. Conclusion: The risk of cervical spine injury in low-speed rear-end collisions (ΔV≤8 km/h) appears minimal, with no significant structural or neuromuscular abnormalities observed. Further research is needed to assess long-term effects and improve occupant comfort. Practitioner summary: This study evaluated cervical spine injury risks in low-speed rear-end collisions using kinematics, MRI, and neurophysiological tests. Findings showed no structural or electrophysiological abnormalities at impact velocities up to 8 km/h, suggesting negligible injury risk. Results provide evidence-based guidance for clinical assessment and insurance-related decision-making in minor collisions.
Keywords: Cervical spine injury, electromyogram (EMG), minor motor vehicle crashes, MRI, Nerve conduction velocity (NCV)
Received: 10 Nov 2025; Accepted: 06 Feb 2026.
Copyright: © 2026 LEE, LEE, KIM, KIM, KANG, KIM, KIM and YOUK. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Hyun YOUK
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