A new study suggests that scientists can predict the development of chronic pain just three days after a whiplash injury—an injury caused by the neck bending forcibly forward and then backward—by analyzing brain activity patterns and anxiety levels.
Whiplash is a neck injury that usually occurs from rear-end car crashes and less commonly occurs from sport injuries, physical violence, and other trauma.
Over 3.3 million adults in the United States currently experience chronic pain as a result of whiplash injuries, making it a significant public health concern.
“Chronic pain remains a major source of disability and suffering worldwide, carrying large health and societal costs,” the study authors wrote….