In pt w/ WAD, which factor is associated with worse delayed outcomes?

• A. Younger age
• B. Pre-existing neck and/or low back pain
• C. High education
• D. Full-time employment

Answer: (B)

In whiplash-associated disorders, prognosis over time is strongly shaped by prior pain history. If a patient already has neck and/or low back pain before the whiplash event, they’re more likely to experience longer-lasting pain and greater disability after the injury. This reflects a heightened vulnerability of the pain system—often involving mechanisms like central sensitization and amplified pain processing—and it can be compounded by other factors such as emotional distress or reduced activity. By contrast, factors like younger age, higher education, or full-time employment are generally linked to better recovery potential and fewer barriers to return to function, so they don’t carry the same risk for delayed poor outcomes.