The Aarhus University Hospital-led study found that whiplash pain lasts longer and produces more disability than similar types of pain from ankle injury.

The researchers compared 141 people with whiplash-related pain to 40 people with acute ankle injury. The study participants were seen at one week, and at one, three, six and 12 months after they suffered their injury.

They were asked to rate their overall upper-body pain and separately rate headache pain and pain in the lower back, neck, shoulders and arms.

Both groups reported initial similar global pain form their injuries, but the people with whiplash had more frequent pain.

Pain reported by people with ankle injuries declined rapidly, going from an initial average of 15 to near zero within the first month. However, pain reported by people with whiplash declined from an average of 20 to 14 after a year.

The greatest difference between the two groups was in shoulder and arm pain. There was no difference in back pain.

The study also found that people with whiplash who reported more pain also had more non-painful neurological complaints such as dizziness, irritability and forgetfulness. That kind of correlation wasn't evident in people with ankle injuries.

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