title: The role of educational and learning approaches in rehabilitation of whiplash-associated disorders in lessening the transition to chronicity.
abstract: METHODS
  The study design was descriptive.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this chapter was to illustrate and discuss educational and learning perspectives in the rehabilitation of patients with acute whiplash-associated disorders (WAD).
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  WAD is a major problem for the individual and the society. Several treatment options have been studied without giving convincing results for lessening the transition to chronicity. Current management of acute WAD include among other things advice of exercise and educational activities.
  
  
  METHODS
  A literature search on the PubMed database was conducted with additional topic discussions with the research colleagues at a symposium. These resulted the present state-of-the-art review.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There are several possible cognitive factors and behavioral learning processes such as self-efficacy, fear of movement and (re)injury, and catastrophizing that are important to focus on in decreasing acute WAD to becoming a chronic condition. Learning based on behavioral medicine approach in physiotherapy framework has gained evidence in other musculoskeletal pain conditions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Exercise, education, and learning with a behavioral medicine approach should be focused on in the future studies of acute WAD management.
authors.affiliation: School of Health, Care and Social Welfare, Mälardalen University, Västerås, Sweden. anne.soderlund@mdh.se
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Söderlund
mesh_terms: D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D011379:Prognosis; D014911:Whiplash Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*