Neck muscle function in individuals with persistent pain and disability after whiplash injury

.................................................................................................... 1 LIST OF PAPERS .......................................................................................... 3 ABBREVIATIONS ......................................................................................... 4 DEFINITIONS .............................................................................................. 5 BACKGROUND............................................................................................. 7 Biomechanics of the cervical spine in whiplash-associated disorders . 7 Diagnosis in WAD ..................................................................................... 8 Ultrasound measurement of skeletal muscle ........................................ 9 Motor control and muscle function ..................................................... 10 Neck muscle function ............................................................................... 11 Muscle adaption to pain ........................................................................13 The biopsychosocial model of pain ......................................................... 13 Treatment of persistent whiplash-associated disorders ..................... 14 Exercises and behavioral approaches in WAD ....................................... 14 Exercise regimens in WAD ...................................................................... 15 The individual perspective on treatment ................................................. 15 Rationale of the thesis ........................................................................... 17 AIMS OF THE THESIS ............................................................................... 18 General aim .......................................................................................... 18 Specific aims ......................................................................................... 18 METHODS .................................................................................................. 19 Study design ......................................................................................... 19 Study population .................................................................................. 20 Participants, study A ............................................................................... 21 Participants study B ................................................................................ 23 Ethical consideration .............................................................................. 25 Data collections .................................................................................... 26