Improving outcomes for whiplash injuries
by Geraldine Hinter
Improving
outcomes for people with whiplash-associated disorders is the goal
of UniSA Postdoctoral Senior Research Fellow Dr Saravana Kumar, who
has been awarded a prestigious National Institute of Clinical
Studies Fellowship (NICS) to get the best available treatments based
on health and medical research into everyday practice.
NICS is part of the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), and has offered the Fellowship in partnership with TRACsa and the Motor Accident Commission. An independent body, TRACsa has developed a set of best practice clinical guidelines based on research aimed at improving outcomes for people with whiplash-associated disorders.
Dr Kumar’s Fellowship is unique in that it is the first research project in South Australia to look at physiotherapists and chiropractors in terms of implementing best practice evidence.
A physiotherapist and a lecturer at UniSA’s Centre for Allied Health Evidence, Dr Kumar will use the two-year Fellowship to work with physiotherapists and chiropractors to address the gap between current treatment methods and best practice guidelines in the management of patients with whiplash-associated disorders.
Whiplash-associated disorders (WAD) are a collection of symptoms that can include headache, neck pain and stiffness.
"The prevalence of whiplash injuries is growing internationally. Whiplash contributes to about 42 per cent of all compulsory third party claims in South Australia. Despite a range of costly treatment and rehabilitation options, some studies have shown that many people with WAD continue to suffer and their long-term outcomes are quite poor. Some patients have poor outcomes even after undergoing treatment for six months or a year, and longer," Dr Kumar said.
TRACsa guidelines recommend certain treatments for patients, who present with whiplash in the initial stages at the acute level, and not others, and some treatments that should never be used, as well as specific treatments that should be used for chronic whiplash.
"If treated early using the guidelines, patient outcomes can be improved significantly and the incidence of chronic conditions can be reduced, "Dr Kumar said.
"A lot of research has gone into not just producing evidence of best practice, but looking at implementing the evidence," he said.
"My role will be to work with physiotherapists and chiropractors in 25 physiotherapy and 25 chiropractic clinics in Adelaide to educate two providers in each clinic and support them to use practices that are supported by evidence to make a difference and not to use those shown by evidence not to work," Dr Kumar said.
"I will be looking at both qualitative and quantitative processes and outcomes in the clinics, and will monitor the implementation of best practice for whiplash-associated disorders, as well as responses from patients with WAD."
By working together with health care providers and consumers, and identifying their unique perspectives of guideline implementation, Dr Kumar aims to address the current evidence-practice gap in WAD management.