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IHO069

The OPTIMISE Feasibility Trial: OPTIMIsing treatment of chronic pain after whiplash injury using StressModEx

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Project Information
Project commenced
Recover Code
IHO069
Title
The OPTIMISE Feasibility Trial: OPTIMIsing treatment of chronic pain after whiplash injury using StressModEx
Recover Lead
Michele Sterling
Co-investigators
Dr Rachel Elphinston The University of Queensland CI Assoc Prof Melissa Day The University of Queensland CI Dr Christopher Papic The University of Queensland CI Dr Karime Mescouto The University of Queensland CI Prof Luke Connelly The University of Queensland CI Dr Sabrina Lenzen The University of Queensland CI Dr Nigel Armfield The University of Queensland CI Mrs Ana Paula Carvalho-e-Silva University of Sydney CI Dr Katherine Brain The University of Newcastle CI Dr Rutger de Zoete University of Tasmania
Status
Project commenced
Stream
Improving health outcomes after musculoskeletal Injury
CTP Relevance
Improve injury treatment
STARS
Non-STARS
Ethical Clearance Number
--
Plans
No plans
Synopsis

OPTIMISE is an external pilot patient randomised trial of a novel physiotherapist-led intervention for patients with chronic whiplash pain from a motor vehicle crash injury. Participants will be adults with greater than 3 months pain, disability and psychological distress associated with chronic whiplash. Participants will be randomly allocated to one of two treatments - a novel physiotherapist-led integrated physical and psychological intervention (StressModex) or usual physiotherapy exercise. Usual physiotherapy exercise is recommended by clinical guidelines but has only small effects. Training physiotherapists to identify and treat psychological distress using stress inoculation training in addition to exercise is effective for acute (< 6 weeks) whiplash. We have optimised StressModex for patients with chronic whiplash (> 3 months duration), as well as our physiotherapist training model by triangulating the best available research evidence, with input from patients, physiotherapists, government regulators and compulsory third party insurer funders to ensure the intervention and physiotherapist training is acceptable to all stakeholders. The newly designed optimised intervention (StressModex) and physiotherapist training model is ready for feasibility and pilot trial testing. We will evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of StressModex to patients and physiotherapists, as well as the feasibility and acceptability of a new training model involving blended on-line learning and clinical supervision. We will pilot trial processes for a future fully powered randomised controlled trial to test clinical and cost-effectiveness compared with usual physiotherapy exercise treatment.

Milestones

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KT Plan

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Project Progress
31 Jul 2026 11:07 AM

CI list reformatted: Dr Rachel Elphinston The University of Queensland CI Assoc Prof Melissa Day The University of Queensland CI Dr Christopher Papic The University of Queensland CI Dr Karime Mescouto The University of Queensland CI Prof Luke Connelly The University of Queensland CI Dr Sabrina Lenzen The University of Queensland CI Dr Nigel Armfield The University of Queensland CI Mrs Ana Paula Carvalho-e-Silva University of Sydney CI Dr Katherine Brain The University of Newcastle CI Dr Rutger de Zoete University of Tasmania

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Linked KT Activities

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Linked CCI Activities

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