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.
Gunnel Peterson
Affiliated Researcher
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.
Publications
Selected publications
Gunnel Peterson, Maria Landén Ludvigsson, Shaun P. OLeary, Asa M. Dedering, Thorne Wallman, Margaretha I. N. Jonsson, Anneli Peolsson
(2015)
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)
Scientific Reports
, Vol.5
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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
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
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
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
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
