🎙️ Is whiplash just a musculoskeletal issue—or are we missing something bigger?

In this episode, we talk with Dr. Annina Schmid and Dr. Joel Fundaun—two of the world’s leading researchers on nerve involvement in whiplash. They reveal the surprising evidence from recent studies showing that many patients with Grade II whiplash have signs of neuropathic pain, nerve inflammation, and sensory loss—and they share simple ways frontline clinicians can catch it early.

✅ Learn how small fiber deficits, neurodynamic testing, and bedside tools like pinprick and thermal tests can help
✅ Find out why current guidelines may under-treat nerve involvement in whiplash
✅ Hear how to reframe rehab beyond musculoskeletal care

Whether you’re a PT, physician, or pain researcher, this episode bridges the gap between clinical research and real-world application.

🎧 Listen to the full episode now and subscribe for more deep dives into modern pain care.

📚 Papers:
Nerve pathology and neuropathic pain after whiplash injury: a systematic review and metaanalysis - https://doi.org/10.1097/j.pain.0000000000002509
The presence and prognosis of nerve pathology following whiplash injury: a prospective cohort study - https://doi.org/10.1093/brain/awaf088
Evidence for peripheral neuroinflammation after acute whiplash - https://journals.lww.com/pain/fulltext/9900/evidence_for_peripheral_neuroinflammation_after.842.aspx

⏱️ Chapters with Timestamps:
• 00:00 – Intro: Rethinking Whiplash Grade II
• 01:00 – Welcome + Guest Introductions
• 02:00 – Annina Schmid: Background & Oxford Lab
• 03:00 – Joel Fundaun: From Clinical PT to PhD at Oxford
• 04:00 – Whiplash Classification: Quebec Task Force Framework
• 06:00 – Clinical Red Flags: When Whiplash Isn’t Just Musculoskeletal
• 08:00 – Small Fiber Deficits in Chronic Whiplash
• 09:00 – Neuroinflammation Study: MRI, Blood Markers & Correlates
• 11:00 – Simple Tools for Clinicians: What You Can Do Without MRI
• 13:00 – Bedside Testing That Detects Nerve Involvement
• 14:00 – Neurodynamic Tests & Pinprick Sensation: What They Show
• 16:00 – Hypoesthesia as a Prognostic Factor for Chronic Pain
• 18:00 – Evolution of Whiplash Care & The Role of Medications
• 20:00 – Why Neuropathic Pain Often Goes Untreated in Whiplash
• 22:00 – The Gap in Neurodynamic Treatment Trials for Whiplash
• 23:30 – Joel’s Clinical Takeaways: Subjective Interview & Sensory Screening
• 25:30 – Full Neuro Exams in Clinic: Quick, Cheap & Valuable
• 27:00 – Building Your 3-Minute Neurologic Toolkit
• 29:00 – Why Small Fiber Testing Belongs in Standard Exam Flow
• 30:00 – Puzzle Piece Thinking: Neurological Exams Are Like MSK Tests
• 32:00 – Integrating Psychosocial Factors in Assessment
• 33:30 – Best Practice: Multimodal Care With Stress Reduction
• 35:00 – Research Design: Need for Better Subgrouping in Trials
• 36:30 – Mixed Methods Research & Elevating the Patient Voice
• 38:00 – What’s Next: Future Research Questions
• 40:00 – Stanford & Oxford: Ongoing Neuroimaging & Mechanism Studies
• 41:30 – Final Reflections & Appreciation for the Research Team
• 43:00 – Outro: Subscribe + Links to Research & Resources

#Whiplash #NeuropathicPain #PainScience #PhysicalTherapy #Neuroinflammation #modernpainpodcast
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Modern Pain Care is a company dedicated to spreading evidence-based and person-centered information about pain, prevention, and overall fitness and wellness