Spine
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Expert debate and synthesis of research to inform future management approaches for acute whiplash disorders. ⋯ The burden of whiplash injuries, the high rate of transition to chronicity, and evidence of limited effects of current management on transition rates demand new directions in evaluation and management. Several directions have been proposed for future research, which reflect the potential multifaceted dimensions of an acute whiplash disorder.
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Focused discussion. ⋯ Care must be taken by both researchers and their audiences not to overgeneralize or confuse different aspects of WAD compensation. In considering the role of compensation/compensation-related factors on WAD and WAD recovery, it is important to retain a broad-based conceptualization of the range of biological, psychological, social, and economic factors that combine and interact to define and determine how people recover from WAD.
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A descriptive overview of the relevant literature and the introduction of a new psychological model. ⋯ In clinical practice, it seems important to have insight into the patient's illness beliefs about the cause of the experienced symptoms. Health care professionals should be aware of the possible detrimental influence of dysfunctional illness beliefs. In the early stage, adequate explanation and information about the probable course may be sufficient to prevent the generation of dysfunctional illness beliefs thereby preventing the development of a chronic course. At the population level, educational campaigns that inform people about probable causes and realistic expectations regarding post-traumatic neck pain could provide an effective strategy for preventing chronic whiplash symptoms.