Whiplash Injury and Chronic Pain: The Anatomy and Current Interdisciplinary Approaches to Management

Abstract

Whiplash injuries causing whiplash-associated disorder (WAD; spectrum of clinical manifestations resulting from injury) represent a major public health problem. The onset of pain and other symptoms may occur immediately or have a delayed onset. A substantial majority of patients progress to continuing symptoms of pain, inability to function, and loss of work, with or without associated psychological burden of depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress syndrome. It is important for a clinician or a health worker to understand the disease from the perspectives of its historical, biomechanical, clinical-therapeutic and bio-psycho-social approaches to effectively manage a patient’s care following a potential injury. In this book, we have summarized that information, organized into different chapters, within the framework of two patients. With this approach, information is easier to understand and directly applicable to clinical practice. We feel that this book acts as a useful resource to medical students and learners, primary care physicians, pain physicians, physiatrists, physical therapists and health providers involved with management of whiplash patients. A conscious attempt has been made to deliver evidence-based information.