2019 Vic Branch End of Year Breakfast
Join us at the annual Vic Branch End of Year Breakfast, to be held at the MCG.
The keynote speaker will be Michele Sterling, presenting ‘Whiplash Associated Disorders: latest evidence for rehabilitation and recovery'.
Whiplash Associated Disorders (WAD) are most common injury following a motor vehicle crash and incur significant costs to CTP insurance schemes. Consistent international data indicates that up to 50% of people will not have recovered one year post whiplash injury.
Whilst there is variability in recovery pathways, recent exploration using trajectory modelling analytical techniques has identified distinct recovery pathways (trajectories). Factors identified as being prognostic of poor health outcomes following whiplash injury include initial pain intensity, initial disability, pain catastrophizing, posttraumatic stress symptoms, recovery expectations and signs of nociplastic pain.
Emerging data indicates that some people may exhibit an inherent vulnerability to develop chronic pain. Prognostic clinical prediction tools have been developed to assist clinical decision making based on risk of poor recovery. Many trials have investigated traditional interventions such as exercise programs that may not be sufficient to address the complex clinical presentation seen in those with already chronic symptoms or those individuals with acute whiplash pain identified as being at high risk of poor-recovery.
A recent high quality trial showed little benefit of an early multi-disciplinary intervention on the incidence of chronic pain development. Another high quality trial of an intensive physical rehabilitation program for people with chronic whiplash showed no greater effect than simple advice. However, a recent trial that utilised physiotherapists to specifically target the modifiable risk factor of stress symptoms in people at high risk of poor recovery showed superior short- and long-term effects on disability and psychological distress.
This presentation will outline and discuss possible ways forward for the management of this condition.
Registrations for this event have now closed.
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