About this Research Topic
Neck pain arising from a whiplash injury (whiplash-associated disorder [WAD]) is responsible for substantial global pain-related disability. While many patients recover in the months following injury, others will develop chronic WAD and experience ongoing symptoms, with a considerable portion developing chronic moderate-severe pain and disability that significantly impacts their quality of life. In patients with more severe presentations, current guideline-based treatments typically yield modest effects, which may in part reflect incomplete understanding of the complex and heterogenous underlying mechanisms.
Improving outcomes for people after whiplash injury is a challenge shared by clinicians, researchers and health services worldwide, requiring advances in knowledge of: i) applicable pathophysiology, ii) patient assessment, and iii) clinical treatment.
The goal of this Research Topic is therefore to bring together a collection of papers that provide new insight into mechanisms underpinning WAD, considerations in clinical assessment, as well as approaches to patient treatment. Given the need to consider often complex biopsychosocial factors in WAD and the interdisciplinary nature of clinical management of this patient group, this Research Topic aims to span across scientific and clinical disciplines, such as pain medicine, physiotherapy, psychology and neuroscience.
We welcome the submission of manuscripts including, but not limited to, the following:
- Pathophysiology of WAD. This may include animal, preclinical or patient studies, spanning musculoskeletal, neurological, psychological, inflammatory or other applicable mechanisms.
- Clinical assessment of WAD. E.g. psychological factors, sensory function, questionnaire-based outcomes, blood markers.
- Clinical management of WAD. Evaluation of existing or novel approaches to treatment, including physiotherapy, medical, psychological or other relevant clinical disciplines.
- Other issues and considerations for WAD.
Original research and systematic reviews are welcome and other forms of submission will be considered.
Improving outcomes for people after whiplash injury is a challenge shared by clinicians, researchers and health services worldwide, requiring advances in knowledge of: i) applicable pathophysiology, ii) patient assessment, and iii) clinical treatment.
The goal of this Research Topic is therefore to bring together a collection of papers that provide new insight into mechanisms underpinning WAD, considerations in clinical assessment, as well as approaches to patient treatment. Given the need to consider often complex biopsychosocial factors in WAD and the interdisciplinary nature of clinical management of this patient group, this Research Topic aims to span across scientific and clinical disciplines, such as pain medicine, physiotherapy, psychology and neuroscience.
We welcome the submission of manuscripts including, but not limited to, the following:
- Pathophysiology of WAD. This may include animal, preclinical or patient studies, spanning musculoskeletal, neurological, psychological, inflammatory or other applicable mechanisms.
- Clinical assessment of WAD. E.g. psychological factors, sensory function, questionnaire-based outcomes, blood markers.
- Clinical management of WAD. Evaluation of existing or novel approaches to treatment, including physiotherapy, medical, psychological or other relevant clinical disciplines.
- Other issues and considerations for WAD.
Original research and systematic reviews are welcome and other forms of submission will be considered.
Keywords: whiplash injuries, neck pain, spinal pain, chronic pain, trauma
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
