Each year, more than 100,000 Australians are injured in road crashes. About 75% of these are mild-to-moderate injuries affecting the neck or back.
What is whiplash?
Whiplash is the most common injury after a road crash. It happens when the head and neck are suddenly forced forwards and backwards. Recovery differs from person to person. While many people recover within a few months, up to half continue to experience pain and other symptoms more than three months after their injury. This highlights the need for better whiplash treatments and support.
Why participate in research on whiplash?
The RECOVER Injury Research Centre at The University of Queensland is working to improve whiplash recovery and treatment through world-leading research. By taking part, you could:
- Access new approaches to whiplash treatment
- Help improve care for future patients
- Support research into why some people recover quickly and others experience ongoing symptoms
Join a whiplash research study
Your eligibility to participate in a research project may depend on how recently you were injured. Click through the tabs below to learn more about projects that are currently recruiting participants.
How recently were you injured?
PRioRTI: a clinical trial of pregabalin to treat neck and/or back pain as a result of road traffic injuries
Study name: PRioRTI: PReventing chronic pain after whiplash Road Traffic Injury
The drug Pregabalin may help prevent the nervous system from becoming overly sensitive to pain. This increased pain sensitivity is linked to a poorer recovery after a whiplash-related road traffic injury. Pregabalin is approved in Australia for neuropathic pain and epilepsy, and it is increasingly used off-label for acute whiplash. A recent clinical trial found that compared to a placebo, pregabalin had promising and sustained effects when it was used to prevent chronic pain after a whiplash injury.
The PRiorTI Trial is now investigating the clinical and cost-effectiveness of a short course of pregabalin for neck and/or back pain as a result of non-catastrophic road traffic injuries.
Eligibility:
- Adults, 18+
- Neck or back pain after a road traffic injury
- Injured in the past 2 weeks
Sensory nerve study
Recent research findings suggest that in some people who develop long-term whiplash neck pain, there are changes in the structure and function of small sensory nerve fibres that transmit information about temperature and pain.
Study name
Development of small nerve fibre pathology in chronic whiplash-associated disorder
Involvement
- Questionnaires about neck pain, general health and psychological symptoms
- Small skin biopsies taken at the finger and ankle
- Blood collected from a vein in your arm
Eligibility:
- Adults, 18+
- Neck pain after a road traffic injury
- Injured in the past 3 weeks
- Must be able to attend the Tess Cramond Pain & Research Centre, RBWH (STARS Building, 296 Herston Road, Herston) for a 60-90 minute appointment.
Benefits
- $50 gift voucher
This study has been approved by The University of Queensland Human Research Ethics Committee [Approval No.2022/HE000921].
PICOT Trial: Access a new treatment for whiplash and support physiotherapist training
The newly developed StressModex program includes psychological strategies with physiotherapy care to treat neck and back injuries after a motor vehicle crash. However, the psychological strategies used in StressModex are not part of standard physiotherapist training. An earlier clinical trial showed that after a 2-day in-person training course, physiotherapists delivered the StressModex program well, and improved patient outcomes. The PICOT trial is evaluating the effectiveness of an online training program for physiotherapists delivering the StressModex intervention. People with recent whiplash injuries can find a physiotherapist participating in this trial through the PICOT web page.
Study name: Physiotherapists bIopsyChosocial Online Training (PICOT)
Locations: Participating clinics are located in towns and cities throughout Australia
SCED study: Help refine the StressModex program for whiplash treatment
We're looking for Brisbane-based volunteers to participate in research refining the StressModex treatment for whiplash injuries. Participants will receive 6 free treatment sessions from qualified physiotherapists as part of the study.
RISE online workshop: Give feedback on a text message-based support program for people with whiplash injuries
Current treatments for whiplash often miss the emotional impact of trauma and aren’t always affordable or easy to access. Our team has co-designed RISE, a new and easy-to-access support program delivered by text message. We need people who have experienced whiplash from a road traffic incident to help co-design the text message intervention.
Study name: RISE for Recovery, Information, Support, Empowerment after road traffic injury – an innovative text messaging intervention pilot study
What can nerves in the eye tell us about whiplash?
This study seeks to learn about sensory nerves in people with long-term whiplash neck pain. After a whiplash injury, some people recover, and others develop long-term pain. The reasons for ongoing pain after whiplash are not fully understood. However, recent research suggests that sensory nerves (that transmit information about pain) may be implicated.
Study name: Small nerve fibre pathology in chronic whiplash – a corneal confocal microscopy study
Involvement
Participation involves a microscope assessment of your eye by an optometrist, completing some questionnaires, and sensory testing at the neck and leg. This will take no more than 90 minutes.
Benefits:
Participants are offered a $50 gift voucher to reimburse for time and travel expenses.
Eligibility:
- We are seeking male and female participants aged 18-70 years, with neck pain after a whiplash injury lasting more than 3 months.
- You must be able to visit the Queensland University of Technology School of Optometry and Vision Science at Kelvin Grove
How do I participate?
To find out more information, please contact Dr Scott Farrell and the research team on (07) 3346 4791 or scott.farrell@uq.edu.au
Stay in touch
The RECOVER Injury Research Centre's Consumer and Community newsletter keeps you up to date with opportunities to get involved in research at RECOVER and the latest findings from our research teams.