Exercise and Cognitive Functioning in People With Chronic Whiplash-Associated Disorders: A Controlled Laboratory Study

Abstract

In the short term, postexercise cognitive functioning, pain, and fatigue were not aggravated in people with chronic WAD. However, randomized controlled trials are required to study the longer-term and isolated effects of exercise on cognitive functioning.

Validity and Test–Retest Reliability of the Dutch Modified Perceived Deficits Questionnaire to Examine Cognitive Symptoms in Women with Chronic Whiplash, Chronic Idiopathic Neck Pain, and Fibromyalgia

“…These disagreements in the literature can be explained by the large variety of objective and cognitive tests that can be used for the assessment of cognitive functioning. The choice of using the Stroop task and PVT was made since these were used in previous studies with similar populations . However, many other different cognitive tests exist to evaluate cognitive functioning in chronic pain patients.…”

“…Three different conditions were used, namely, “congruent” (word and ink color refer to the same color), “incongruent” (word and ink color are different), and “neutral” (display of neutral words in a certain color of ink) . The Stroop task has been used and described in detail in our previous studies on females with chronic fatigue syndrome and chronic WAD . Mean response reaction times and accuracy for each of these 3 conditions for correct responses were taken into account for further analyses (Stroop reaction time congruent, incongruent, and neutral, and Stroop accuracy congruent, incongruent, and neutral).…”

“…Longer reaction times and higher amount of lapses are an indication of worse sustained attention. Again, the PVT has been used and described in detail in our previous studies on females with chronic fatigue syndrome and chronic WAD …”

“…First, cognitive performance can be assessed using performance‐based neuropsychological tests, potentially computer‐based, performed by clinicians or patients . There is a broad choice of tests that measure cognitive performance in chronic pain patients.…”

“…Some frequently used tests are the Mini‐Mental State Examination, clock drawing test, paced auditory serial addition task, operation span task, as well as the Stroop task and the psychomotor vigilance task (PVT) . The Stroop task and PVT have been used in previous studies to investigate objective cognitive performance in chronic pain patients in general, and in chronic whiplash patients and FM patients in specific . Each of these tests evaluates certain aspects of cognitive functioning (ie, the Stroop task for selective attention and cognitive control, and the PVT for vigilance and alertness) .…”