Whiplash Associated Disorders

Recovery Pathways and Prognosis After Whiplash Injury

Authors: Carrie Ritchie, PhD1, Michele Sterling, PT, PhD1 Synopsis Recovery from a whiplash injury is varied and complex. Some individuals recover quickly and fully, while others experience on-going pain and disability. Three distinct patterns of predicted recovery (trajectories) have been identified using disability and psychological outcome measures. These trajectories are not linear, and show that […]

An Investigation of Fat Infiltration of the Multifidus Muscle in Patients With Severe Neck Symptoms Associated With Chronic Whiplash Associated Disorder

Authors: Anette Karlsson, MSc Study Design Cross-sectional study. Background Findings of fat infiltration in cervical spine multifidus, as a sign of degenerative morphometric changes due to the whiplash injury, need to be verified. Objectives To develop a method using water/fat magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to investigate fat infiltration and cross-sectional area of multifidus muscle in […]

Morphology of Cervical Spine Meniscoids in Individuals With Chronic Whiplash Associated Disorder: A Case-Control Study

Scott F. Farrell, PT Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy, 2016 Volume:0 Issue:0 Pages:1–33 Study Design Case-control study. Background Cervical spine meniscoids are thought to contribute to neck pain and hypomobility in individuals with chronic whiplash associated disorder (WAD), however their morphology has not been studied in a clinical population. Objectives To investigate cervical […]

Effect of Early Intensive Care on Recovery From Whiplash-Associated Disorders

APH&R May 2016Volume 97, Issue 5, Pages 739–746 Effect of Early Intensive Care on Recovery From Whiplash-Associated Disorders: Results of a Population-Based Cohort Study Eva Skillgate, PhD Abstract Objective To determine whether the results from previous research suggesting that early intensive health care delays recovery from whiplash-associated disorders (WADs) were confounded by expectations of recovery […]

Effects of Neck-Specific Exercises Compared to Waiting List for Individuals With Chronic Whiplash-Associated Disorders: A Prospective, Randomized Controlled Study

APM&R. February 2016Volume 97, Issue 2, Pages 189–195 Anneli Peolsson, PhD, PT Highlights •The results showed that neck-specific exercises (NSEs) significantly benefited neck disability, self-efficacy, and health-related quality of life compared with the untreated group. •There was significant improvement over time in all outcomes for the NSE group, and mostly significant worsening over time for […]

Thoracic dysfunction in whiplash-associated disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis protocol

Syst Rev. 2016 Feb 9;5(1):26. doi: 10.1186/s13643-016-0201-0. R Heneghan N, Smith R, Rushton A. Abstract BACKGROUND: Whiplash-associated disorder (WAD) research has largely focused on the neck, yet symptoms often include other areas. The prevalence of acute thoracic spine pain is reported ~66 %, which is perhaps unsurprising given the mechanism of injury involves a forceful loading/eccentric […]

Occupant and Crash Characteristics of Elderly Subjects With Thoracic and Lumbar Spine Injuries After Motor Vehicle Collisions

Spine: January 2016 – Volume 41 – Issue 1 – p 32–38 Rao, Raj D. MD Abstract Study Design. Retrospective study of a prospectively gathered database. Objective. To investigate the incidence and pattern of thoracic and lumbar (T and L) spine injuries among elderly subjects involved in motor vehicle collision (MVC). Summary of Background Data. […]

Which interventions are cost-effective for the management of whiplash-associated and neck pain-associated disorders?

Spine J. 2016 Dec;16(12):1582-1597. doi: 10.1016/j.spinee.2015.08.025. Epub 2015 Nov 26. Which interventions are cost-effective for the management of whiplash-associated and neck pain-associated disorders? A systematic review of the health economic literature by the Ontario Protocol for Traffic Injury Management (OPTIMa) Collaboration. van der Velde G1, Yu H2, Paulden M3, Côté P4, Varatharajan S2, Shearer HM2, Wong JJ2, Randhawa K5, Southerst D6, Mior S7, Sutton D2, Jacobs C8, Taylor-Vaisey […]

A Test-Retest Reliability Study of the Whiplash Disability Questionnaire in Patients With Acute Whiplash-Associated Disorders

Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2015 Nov 10. pii: S0161-4754(15)00181-5. doi: 10.1016/j.jmpt.2015.10.003. [Epub ahead of print] Stupar M, Côté P, Beaton DE, Boyle E, Cassidy JD. Abstract OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the test-retest reliability and the Minimal Detectable Change (MDC) of the Whiplash Disability Questionnaire (WDQ) in individuals with acute whiplash-associated disorders […]

Whiplash Associated Disorders and a Evidenced Based Treatment Approach – Slide Show

Whiplash Associated Disorders and a Evidenced Based Treatment Approach Texas Chiropractic Associaiton 2015 PowerPoint Slide Presentation

NSAIDs, Opioids Found Similar for Chronic Pain Risk After Vehicular Accidents

Clinical Pain Medicine ISSUE: AUGUST 2015 | VOLUME: 13(8) There are no significant differences between giving nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and opioids to patients in the emergency department (ED) with regard to their risk for developing chronic pain after motor vehicle accidents, a new study suggests. Individuals presenting to EDs after vehicular accidents have a […]

The Rapid and Progressive Degeneration of the Cervical Multifidus in Whiplash

Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2015 Jun 15;40(12):E694-700. doi: 10.1097/BRS.0000000000000891. The Rapid and Progressive Degeneration of the Cervical Multifidus in Whiplash: An MRI Study of Fatty Infiltration. Elliott JM1, Courtney DM, Rademaker A, Pinto D, Sterling MM, Parrish TB. Abstract STUDY DESIGN: Single-center prospective longitudinal study. OBJECTIVE: To study the (1) temporal development of muscle fatty […]

Seniors don’t bounce back fast from car crashes

More than half on pain meds 6 months later, study shows Date: June 19, 2015 Source: American College of Emergency Physicians Summary: Many seniors injured in motor vehicle crashes remain in pain for months afterwards, which negatively affects their quality of life, including the ability to live independently, suggest the results of a study of […]

Factors associated with pain and disability reduction following exercise interventions in chronic whiplash

Eur J Pain. 2015 May 29. doi: 10.1002/ejp.729. [Epub ahead of print] Landén Ludvigsson M Abstract BACKGROUND: Some studies support the prescription of exercise for people with whiplash-associated disorders (WAD); however, the response is highly variable. Further research is necessary to identify factors which predict response. METHODS: This is a secondary analysis of a randomized, […]

Clinical Prediction Rule for Whiplash Injury

External Validation Of A Clinical Prediction Rule To Predict Full Recovery And Ongoing Moderate/Severe Disability Following Acute Whiplash Injury Authors: Carrie Ritchie, PhD Study Design Retrospective secondary analysis of data. Objectives To investigate the external validity of the whiplash clinical prediction rule (CPR). Background We recently derived a whiplash CPR to consolidate previously established prognostic […]

Does Whiplash Really Trigger Fibromyalgia?

Less than 1% of whiplash injury sufferers developed fibromyalgia a year later. by Wayne Kuznar, Contributing WriterMarch 20, 2015 Whiplash injury most likely does not lead to fibromyalgia. One year after acute whiplash, only 0.8% of victims developed fibromyalgia, a Canadian researcher reports in RMD Open. The prevalence of fibromyalgia in the general population has been estimated at […]

Neck muscle afferents influence oromotor and cardiorespiratory brainstem neural circuits.

Brain Struct Funct. 2015;220(3):1421-36. doi: 10.1007/s00429-014-0734-8. Epub 2014 Mar 5. Edwards IJ1, Lall VK, Paton JF, Yanagawa Y, Szabo G, Deuchars SA, Deuchars J. Abstract Sensory information arising from the upper neck is important in the reflex control of posture and eye position. It has also been linked to the autonomic control of the cardiovascular […]

Whiplash: More than Standard Neck Pain

ACA News – March 2015 – Amanda Donohue “WHIPLASH, A SOFT TISSUE INJURY TO THE NECK, is also called neck sprain or neck strain. It is characterized by a collection of symptoms that occur following damage to the neck, usually because of sudden extension and flexion,” according to the National Institutes of Health.1 Approximately two-thirds […]

A rare and lethal case of right common carotid pseudoaneurysm following whiplash trauma

Forensic Sci Med Pathol. 2014 Nov 25. [Epub ahead of print] A rare and lethal case of right common carotid pseudoaneurysm following whiplash trauma. Pomara C, Bello S, Serinelli S, Fineschi V. Abstract Whiplash trauma from a car crash is one of the most common causes of neck injury, resulting in pain and dysfunction. We […]

Occupant and crash characteristics in thoracic and lumbar spine injuries resulting from motor vehicle collisions

The Spine Journal Raj D. Rao, MD October 1, 2014 Volume 14, Issue 10, Pages 2355–2365 Abstract Background context Motor vehicle collisions (MVC) are a leading cause of thoracic and lumbar (T and L) spine injuries. Mechanisms of injury in vehicular crashes that result in thoracic and lumbar fractures and the spectrum of injury in these occupants […]