

Whiplash Isn’t Just Neck Pain: What Clinicians Are Missing
5 snips Mar 30, 2025
Dr. Annina Schmid leads the Neuromusculoskeletal Health and Science Lab in Oxford, focusing on nerve injuries, while Dr. Joel Fundaun is a postdoc at Stanford specializing in whiplash. They discuss how Grade II whiplash may signify neuropathic pain rather than just musculoskeletal issues. Listeners learn about essential diagnostic tools like neurodynamic testing and the importance of addressing nerve inflammation. The duo advocates for a comprehensive treatment approach that blends physical and psychosocial strategies for improved patient outcomes.
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Rethinking Whiplash Grade II Pain
- Whiplash Grade II has traditionally been viewed solely as a musculoskeletal issue.
- Recent research shows nerve-related problems are common and detectable with simple clinical exams.
Clinical Spark for Nerve Research
- Dr. Annina Schmid noticed many whiplash patients displayed nerve pain symptoms not explained by muscle or joint issues.
- This clinical observation led to collaborative research revealing small fiber nerve damage in chronic whiplash sufferers.
Neurodynamic Tests Reveal Inflammation
- Neurodynamic tests and nerve palpation can reveal nerve inflammation in whiplash patients.
- These clinical signs correlate with advanced MRI findings of neuroinflammation in recent studies.