title: Acute whiplash associated disorders (WAD).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Whiplash-associated disorder (WAD) is the term given for the collection of symptoms affecting the neck that are triggered by an accident with an acceleration-deceleration mechanism such as a motor vehicle accident. The incidence of whiplash injury varies greatly between different parts of the world with significant monetary burden on the individual as well as the wider community.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Which treatments are best for reducing pain and disability experience in acute WADs?
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical practice guidelines, systematic reviews, meta-analysis, randomized controlled trials.
  PubMed, Cochrane Library, Medline, EMBASE, AUST health, AMED.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From the patient perspective the main outcomes considered are pain and disability.
  Whiplash-associated disorders include a range of symptoms related to the neck and head. They commonly occur after motor vehicle accidents or diving mishaps. There is good evidence to suggest that active exercise, acting as usual and combination therapy are the most effective treatment choices in an acute presentation.
authors.affiliation: International Centre for Allied Health Evidence, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia.
authors.forename: Khushnum
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pastakia
authors.affiliation: International Centre for Allied Health Evidence, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia.
authors.forename: Saravana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kumar
keywords: multimodel therapy; neckpain; pain levels; whiplash