Pathophysiological Mechanism Behind Prolonged Whiplash Associated Disorders

Study population The inclusion criteria for patients are: * Chronic neck problems corresponding to WAD grades 2-3 verified by clinical examination * Average estimated pain in the last week at least 20 mm on the visual analogue scale (VAS) * Neck disability of more than 20% on the Neck Disability Index (NDI) \[10\] * Working age (18 - 63 years) * Daily access to a computer/tablet/smart phone and Internet * Neck symptoms within the first week after the injury (i.e., neck pain, neck stiffness, or cervical radiculopathy). For the present sub group study additional criteria were: * Right handed * Dominant right sided or equal sided pain Inclusion criteria for healthy controls: • Age and gender matched healthy individuals without neck pain and disability (VAS \<10mm, NDI \<5%) that feel overall healthy without known diseases. Exclusion criteria for patients: * Individuals with any of the following signs of head injury at the time of whiplash injury will be excluded: loss of consciousness, amnesia before or after the injury, altered mental status (e.g., confusion, disorientation), focal neurological changes (changes in smell and taste). * Previous fractures or dislocation of the cervical spine * Known or suspected serious physical pathology included myelopathy, * Spinal tumours * Spinal infection * Ongoing malignancy * Previous severe neck problems that resulted in sick leave for more than a month in the year before the current whiplash injury * surgery in the cervical spine…