One-Year Follow-Up after Multimodal Rehabilitation for Patients with Whiplash-Associated Disorders

Abstract

<jats:p>Long-term symptoms after whiplash injury often comprise neck pain, headache, anxiety, depression, functional impairment and low quality of life. In an observational cohort study, we examined physical and mental health effects in patients with subacute to chronic whiplash-associated disorders (WAD) after participation in a multimodal rehabilitation (MMR) program. MMR is a team-based multi-professional method based on a bio-psycho-social model with a cognitive focus to reach an individualized and common goal for the team and patient together. Standardized self-report questionnaires were filled in three times: before MMR, after MMR, and one year after MMR. A total of 322 participants completed the program, 161 of whom responded in full and were further analyzed. At one-year follow-up after MMR, a significant improvement was seen in the evaluation of the primary outcomes (physical and mental health) and secondary outcomes (anxiety, depression, pain intensity and interference with life). Women improved on all outcomes while men did not improve on the psychological measures (mental health, depression and anxiety). This study indicates that a MMR program could be beneficial for patients with subacute to chronic WAD, at least for women, since the outcomes at one-year follow-up were positive.</jats:p>

Pain, Sleep, and Health-Related Quality of Life after Multidisciplinary Intervention for Chronic Pain

“…In the current study, the mean score in all PCS subgroups significantly increased, which has been observed in other studies as well [ 11 , 12 ]. However, the mean scores increased significantly only in the VT and SF subgroups of MCS at one-year follow-up were during the previous month and whether their physical and emotional health interfered with communication with family and friends.…”

“…One unexpected result was that being female predicted lower MCS scores in our study. Previous studies exploring multidisciplinary pain-treatment programs demonstrate that women improved more than men [ 11 , 14 ]. It is known that women usually participate in similar studies more than men [ 11 , 14 , 16 ], and women are more likely to report or experience pain and to seek treatment for their pain [ 1 , 4 ].…”

“…Previous studies exploring multidisciplinary pain-treatment programs demonstrate that women improved more than men [ 11 , 14 ]. It is known that women usually participate in similar studies more than men [ 11 , 14 , 16 ], and women are more likely to report or experience pain and to seek treatment for their pain [ 1 , 4 ]. Having children younger than 18 years of age also predicted lower MCS score.…”

“…In patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain, multidisciplinary or interdisciplinary pain rehabilitation either improved HRQOL, or it did not [ 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 ]. However, major improvement in HRQOL after pain rehabilitation programs positively associated with shorter duration of pain and worse baseline HRQOL [ 15 ].…”

Virtual reality exercises in an interdisciplinary rehabilitation programme for persons with chronic neck pain: A feasibility study

“…Although this study did not explore whether VR exercises add extra benefits to the IRP for the participants, the results indicate greater improvements in HADS Depression and MPI pain-related life interference compared with a recently published follow-up study from our department of IRP for patients with WAD ( 37 ). However, the current sample is too small to make any adequate comparison.…”