Guest EpisodeEpisode 179 · March 30, 2025

Whiplash Isn’t Just Neck Pain: What Clinicians Are Missing

Pain NeuroscienceClinical Reasoning

🎙️ 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 defici...

The Modern Pain Podcast

Episode 179

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🎙️ 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
  • The presence and prognosis of nerve pathology following whiplash injury: a prospective cohort study
  • Evidence for peripheral neuroinflammation after acute whiplash

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About the Guests

Annina Schmid

Annina Schmid

Prof

Annina Schmid is Professor of Pain Neurosciences and a Specialist Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist at the Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences at Oxford University in the UK. She leads the Neuromusculoskeletal Health and Science Lab (https://www.ndcn.ox.ac.uk/research/neuromusculoskeletal-he

Joel Fundaun

Joel Fundaun

Researcher, physical therapist

Dr. Joel Fundaun, PT, DPT, PhD, is a physical therapist and researcher specializing in chronic pain, with a focus on nerve injuries and neuropathic pain. He completed his Doctor of Physical Therapy at Regis University and his orthopaedic physical therapy residency at Northwestern University-Shirley

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