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Gunnel Peterson

Affiliated Researcher, Docent

Presentation

My aim is to contribute to development of diagnostic methods and evidence-based exercise interventions in chronic whiplash and improve knowledge of neck muscle function and structure in neck pain.

Neck pain and disability are common after whiplash injury and up to 50 % have persistent symptoms called whiplash associated disorders (WAD). Despite decades of research the cause of persistent pain and disability are largely unknown and effective treatment and diagnostic tools are lacking. My work expands musculoskeletal and neuromuscular function, and biopsychosocial factors related to neck pain.

Publications

Selected publications

Cover of publication 'Neck muscle function in individuals with persistent pain and disability after whiplash injury'
Gunnel Peterson (2016)
Neck muscle function in individuals with persistent pain and disability after whiplash injury
Gunnel Peterson, Maria Landén Ludvigsson, Shaun P. OLeary, Asa M. Dedering, Thorne Wallman, Margaretha I. N. Jonsson, Anneli Peolsson (2015)
THE EFFECT OF 3 DIFFERENT EXERCISE APPROACHES ON NECK MUSCLE ENDURANCE, KINESIOPHOBIA, EXERCISE COMPLIANCE, AND PATIENT SATISFACTION IN CHRONIC WHIPLASH

Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics , Vol.38 , s.465-746.e4

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Gunnel Peterson, David Nilsson, Johan Trygg, Deborah Falla, Asa Dedering, Thorne Wallman, Anneli Peolsson (2015)
Novel insights into the interplay between ventral neck muscles in individuals with whiplash-associated disorders

Scientific Reports , Vol.5

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2026

Sofia Ask, Siw Carlfjord, Gunnel Peterson, Anneli Peolsson, Emma Nilsing Strid (2026) Physiotherapists' experiences of the implementation of neck-specific exercise for patients with chronic neck pain: A qualitative study Physiotherapy, Vol. 132, Article 101863 (Article in journal) https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.physio.2025.101863
Gunnel Peterson, Erika Andersson, Margaretha Jonsson, Anneli Peolsson (2026) Effect of neck-specific exercises on trapezius muscle function in chronic whiplash-associated disorders: a longitudinal case-control study using ultrasound and speckle-tracking analyses Scientific Reports, Vol. 16, Article 7725 (Article in journal) https://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-35963-y
Hedvig Zetterberg, Katja Boersma, Anneli Peolsson, Gunnel Peterson (2026) Efficacy of neck-specific exercises with and without internet-based support on psychological factors in chronic whiplash-associated disorders: secondary analyses of a randomized controlled trial Pain medicine (Article in journal) https://dx.doi.org/10.1093/pm/pnaf179
Gunnel Peterson, Erika Andersson, Margaretha Jonsson, Anneli Peolsson (2026) Normalisation of impaired neck muscle function after neck-specific exercises identified by speckle-tracking ultrasound analysis: a longitudinal case-control study of individuals with chronic whiplash-associated disorders compared with healthy controls MUSCULOSKELETAL SCIENCE AND PRACTICE, Vol. 81, Article 103483 (Article in journal) https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.msksp.2025.103483

2025

Gunnel Peterson, Stefan Ljunggren, Anneli Peolsson (2025) Factors Related to Pain and Disability Outcomes After an Internet-Delivered or Physiotherapist-Led Exercise Program for Individuals With Chronic Whiplash Symptoms: Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Study JMIR Human Factors, Vol. 12, Article e67991 (Article in journal) https://dx.doi.org/10.2196/67991

Research

Link to Neck-specific exercise program

Related research

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Neck-specific exercises for chronic WAD

The aim of this trial was to compare the effects of an Internet-based neck-specific exercise programme to the same exercises performed at a physiotherapy clinic

Related research

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Physiotherapeutic Diagnostics and Rehabilitation

We conduct clinical research on diagnostic methods and effects of interventions such as therapeutic exercise, manual therapies, pain management modalities as well as pedagogical and behavioural based management strategies.
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Human Movement Science

We improve knowledge of movement system function in healthy as well as individuals with functional impairments due to sickness of injury. Our research utilizes methods for measuring and analyzing the mechanisms required for function and activity.

Coworkers

Photo of Anneli Peolsson

Anneli Peolsson

Visiting Professor

Organisation

Illustration of the letters HMV

Department of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences (HMV)

The research areas at HMV include experimental basic research to clinical, social and public health research. We conduct high-quality education in the sought-after care professions.
A physiotherapist in a blue shirt is standing to the left of a woman in a pink shirt doing an exercise. You can not see their faces.

Division of Prevention, Rehabilitation and Community Medicine (PRNV)

We are an interdisciplinary division that consists of three units: Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, and Clinical Medicine.
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Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (MEDFAK)

The Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences conducts research and education within medicine, healthcare and public health.