Chronic whiplash associated disorders and neck movement measurements: an instantaneous helical axis approach

Abstract

This paper presents an assessment tool for objective neck movement analysis of subjects suffering from chronic whiplash-associated disorders (WAD). Three-dimensional (3-D) motion data is collected by a commercially available motion analysis system. Head rotation, defined in this paper as the rotation angle around the instantaneous helical axis (IHA), is used for extracting a number of variables (e.g., angular velocity and range, symmetry of motion). Statistically significant differences were found between controls and subjects with chronic WAD in a number of variables.

Function in Patients With Cervical Radiculopathy or Chronic Whiplash-Associated Disorders Compared With Healthy Volunteers

“…Active cervical range of motion (AROM), neck muscle endurance (NME), and hand strength are all factors of importance for activities of daily living; they are reduced in other neck pain populations, 8,17 and should be addressed in rehabilitation programs. 18 For patients with chronic WAD 19,20 or CR, 5-9 these factors have been insufficiently evaluated in relatively small samples that exhibit reduced function. [5][6][7][8][9][19][20][21][22] It is important to investigate whether and to what extent these patient groups differ from a healthy population, and whether there are differences in CR patients regarding the onset of symptoms (suddenly after a special occasion, or slowly progressing) and in WAD patients regarding Quebec classification.…”

“…18 For patients with chronic WAD 19,20 or CR, 5-9 these factors have been insufficiently evaluated in relatively small samples that exhibit reduced function. [5][6][7][8][9][19][20][21][22] It is important to investigate whether and to what extent these patient groups differ from a healthy population, and whether there are differences in CR patients regarding the onset of symptoms (suddenly after a special occasion, or slowly progressing) and in WAD patients regarding Quebec classification. 23 Information is contradictory regarding whether or not WAD Grade is related to outcome, 24,25 and to our knowledge the literature lacks studies investigating whether the type of symptom onset in CR patients is related to functional outcome.…”

Cinemática del raquis cervical. Definición de patrones de movimiento para la valoración funcional en el síndrome del latigazo cervical

“…Este resultado es congruente con los resultados reportados porÖhberg [65], donde las velocidades angulares máximas de todos los movimientos analizados (flexión, extensión, rotación izquierda y rotación derecha) se veían reducidos en pacientes que habían que sufrían dolor crónico por SLC.…”

“…Es un sistema con más posibilidades de movimiento de las necesarias para efectuar un gesto cualquiera [8]. Esto implica que puede haber diferentes estrategias de movimiento y es posible que la existencia de lesiones o dolor alteren estas estrategias o den lugar a patrones de movilidad diferentes [65]. Un cambio en la forma de moverse no tiene por qué traducirse en una modificación significativa del rango de movimiento, debido a que existen mecanismos de compensación.…”

“…La fotogrametría ha sido empleada por multitud de autores para analizar los rangos de movilidad cervical, de entre ellos cabe citar a Ferrario et al [46], Bulgheroni et al [11], Sjölander [139],Öhberg y Grip [65] entre otros.…”