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Behavior Change and Pain Relief in Chronic Whiplash Associated Disorder Grade IV Using Flotation Restricted Environmental Stimulation Technique: A Case Report

Received: 2 December 2013     Published: 20 December 2013
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Abstract

Pain is a major public health problem and the needs for more differentiated and flexible treatment options are obvious. The purpose of the present study was to examine, for the first time, experiences from long-term flotation Restricted Environmental Stimulation Technique (REST) made by a patient with chronic Whiplash Associated Disorder (WAD), grade IV. The patient of the present study was a middle aged native-born Caucasian male from Sweden who had been diagnosed with chronic WAD IV by a licensed physician. The patient performed regular flotation during one and a half year and wrote about his experiences in a diary. A semi-structured interview was conducted at the end of therapy. Both the diary and the interviews were analyzed with help of the empirical phenomenological psychological method and results describe experiences of relaxation, pain relief, sleep and deep rest, mental coping, increased energy, wellbeing and behavioral changes as a result of flotation. A model describes the rehabilitative circuit of chronic whiplash during flotation and is in line with the potential role of a stress response system for development and management of chronic whiplash. The study provides qualitative insights into the experiences of flotation as a pain- and stress- management system for chronic whiplash. Results are encouraging for future research and even suggest that interested clinics may use flotation-REST in order to relieve chronic pain and enhance the quality of life for a more comprehensive group of patients with whiplash associated disorders.

Published in Psychology and Behavioral Sciences (Volume 2, Issue 6)
DOI 10.11648/j.pbs.20130206.12
Page(s) 206-216
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2013. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Chronic WAD, Whiplash, Stress, Pain, Flotation, Phenomenology

References
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Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Hanna Edebol, Tommy Nordén, Torsten Norlander. (2013). Behavior Change and Pain Relief in Chronic Whiplash Associated Disorder Grade IV Using Flotation Restricted Environmental Stimulation Technique: A Case Report. Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, 2(6), 206-216. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.pbs.20130206.12

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    ACS Style

    Hanna Edebol; Tommy Nordén; Torsten Norlander. Behavior Change and Pain Relief in Chronic Whiplash Associated Disorder Grade IV Using Flotation Restricted Environmental Stimulation Technique: A Case Report. Psychol. Behav. Sci. 2013, 2(6), 206-216. doi: 10.11648/j.pbs.20130206.12

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    AMA Style

    Hanna Edebol, Tommy Nordén, Torsten Norlander. Behavior Change and Pain Relief in Chronic Whiplash Associated Disorder Grade IV Using Flotation Restricted Environmental Stimulation Technique: A Case Report. Psychol Behav Sci. 2013;2(6):206-216. doi: 10.11648/j.pbs.20130206.12

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  • @article{10.11648/j.pbs.20130206.12,
      author = {Hanna Edebol and Tommy Nordén and Torsten Norlander},
      title = {Behavior Change and Pain Relief in Chronic Whiplash Associated Disorder Grade IV Using Flotation Restricted Environmental Stimulation Technique: A Case Report},
      journal = {Psychology and Behavioral Sciences},
      volume = {2},
      number = {6},
      pages = {206-216},
      doi = {10.11648/j.pbs.20130206.12},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.pbs.20130206.12},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.pbs.20130206.12},
      abstract = {Pain is a major public health problem and the needs for more differentiated and flexible treatment options are obvious. The purpose of the present study was to examine, for the first time, experiences from long-term flotation Restricted Environmental Stimulation Technique (REST) made by a patient with chronic Whiplash Associated Disorder (WAD), grade IV. The patient of the present study was a middle aged native-born Caucasian male from Sweden who had been diagnosed with chronic WAD IV by a licensed physician. The patient performed regular flotation during one and a half year and wrote about his experiences in a diary. A semi-structured interview was conducted at the end of therapy. Both the diary and the interviews were analyzed with help of the empirical phenomenological psychological method and results describe experiences of relaxation, pain relief, sleep and deep rest, mental coping, increased energy, wellbeing and behavioral changes as a result of flotation. A model describes the rehabilitative circuit of chronic whiplash during flotation and is in line with the potential role of a stress response system for development and management of chronic whiplash. The study provides qualitative insights into the experiences of flotation as a pain- and stress- management system for chronic whiplash. Results are encouraging for future research and even suggest that interested clinics may use flotation-REST in order to relieve chronic pain and enhance the quality of life for a more comprehensive group of patients with whiplash associated disorders.},
     year = {2013}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Behavior Change and Pain Relief in Chronic Whiplash Associated Disorder Grade IV Using Flotation Restricted Environmental Stimulation Technique: A Case Report
    AU  - Hanna Edebol
    AU  - Tommy Nordén
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    Y1  - 2013/12/20
    PY  - 2013
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.pbs.20130206.12
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    JF  - Psychology and Behavioral Sciences
    JO  - Psychology and Behavioral Sciences
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    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.pbs.20130206.12
    AB  - Pain is a major public health problem and the needs for more differentiated and flexible treatment options are obvious. The purpose of the present study was to examine, for the first time, experiences from long-term flotation Restricted Environmental Stimulation Technique (REST) made by a patient with chronic Whiplash Associated Disorder (WAD), grade IV. The patient of the present study was a middle aged native-born Caucasian male from Sweden who had been diagnosed with chronic WAD IV by a licensed physician. The patient performed regular flotation during one and a half year and wrote about his experiences in a diary. A semi-structured interview was conducted at the end of therapy. Both the diary and the interviews were analyzed with help of the empirical phenomenological psychological method and results describe experiences of relaxation, pain relief, sleep and deep rest, mental coping, increased energy, wellbeing and behavioral changes as a result of flotation. A model describes the rehabilitative circuit of chronic whiplash during flotation and is in line with the potential role of a stress response system for development and management of chronic whiplash. The study provides qualitative insights into the experiences of flotation as a pain- and stress- management system for chronic whiplash. Results are encouraging for future research and even suggest that interested clinics may use flotation-REST in order to relieve chronic pain and enhance the quality of life for a more comprehensive group of patients with whiplash associated disorders.
    VL  - 2
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Author Information
  • ?rebro University, Nutrition Gut Brain Interactions Research Centre, SE-701 82 ?rebro, Sweden

  • Evidens University College, Packhusplatsen 2, SE-411 13 G?teborg, Sweden

  • Evidens University College, Packhusplatsen 2, SE-411 13 G?teborg, Sweden

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