Unraveling the Nature of Impaired Pain Inhibition in Patients With Chronic Whiplash-associated Disorders
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2013-12-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
The primary study aim is to unravel the nature of impaired pain inhibition during exercise in
patients with chronic Whiplash-Associated Disorders (WAD). This will be ascertained by
examining whether activation of serotonergic and/or noradrenergic descending pathways
improves pain inhibition during exercise in these patients. In addition, it is aimed at
examining whether activation of serotonergic and/or noradrenergic descending pathways
prevents post-exertional malaise following submaximal exercise in chronic WAD patients. A
secondary study aim comprises of examining the effect of an acute submaximal exercise with
and without activation of serotonergic or noradrenergic descending pathways on chronic WAD
patients' cognitive performance. Furthermore, the isolated effect of activated serotonergic
and noradrenergic descending pathways on chronic WAD patients' cognitive performance will be
studied.