University Conducts Cutting Edge Whiplash Research

Whiplash is a common injury which unfortunately we still know little about. It is difficult to accurately diagnose and harder still to effectively treat. Some cases heal in a few weeks while others feel the effect for years. And doctors are unable to tell most patients which category they will fall into. They are told ‘only time will tell’

Whiplash is caused by hypertension of the neck, often brought on by car accidents where the neck is suddenly jerked forward and then back in rapid succession. The injury affects the neck and spinal cord, which is what makes it such a complex injury to treat.
Our spinal cord is crucial to our whole bodies, as we all know injuries to the spine or neck can cause permanent paralysis. Dealing with such a vital area of the body, which is in some ways so robust, yet in others so fragile, is what makes whiplash a complex injury.

To make matters worse, often whiplash injuries, while incredibly painful, do not seem to leave any mark, which makes them very hard to diagnose. Doctors usually diagnose whiplash based on the patients explanation of the pain.

The Ipswich Campus Whiplash Research Centre has been conducting studies into whiplash injuries with the help of local sufferers. Their aim is to uncover the ‘bigger picture’ behind whiplash injury.

The emotional and physical well being of sufferers following the accident is a main focus of the study. By tracking the recovery of a number of sufferers, the study hopes to shed some light on the factors influencing recovery and hopefully discover why some sufferers recover so much faster than others.

Chief investigator Dr Michele Sterling tracks the recovery of whiplash sufferers starting almost immediately after their accident. She explained what the study involved:

“The study incorporates some clinical tests performed at the research centre on campus, with innovative monitoring techniques that take the research ‘out of the lab' and into everyday life,” she said.

“Our research confirms that in some cases, people who suffer neck pain from a motor vehicle accident can go on to experience pain and suffering months and even years after the injury.

“We're only just beginning to learn what factors determine whether pain and suffering persist, but without knowing more it is difficult to intervene early to prevent long-term problems.”

Volunteers in the study are offered a variety of groudbreaking new treatments at the centre and their reactions recorded and monitored. Each participant is usually tracked for one year, following their recovery and general experiences of whiplash.

Dr Sterling hopes that the research will bring new treatments into use as well as creating a deeper understanding of whiplash injuries. She believes that the study of whiplash can be honed into a more presice branch of medcine which will benefit sufferers worlwide.

“The aim of the research is to determine factors that lead to people experiencing pain and suffering that interferes with their daily life over the long term,” Dr Sterling said.