Motor impairment in patients with chronic neck pain: does the traumatic event play a significant role? – a case control study

Publication date: Available online 31 January 2018
Source:The Spine Journal
Author(s): R. De Pauw, I. Coppieters, T. Palmans, L. Danneels, M. Meeus, B. Cagnie
Background contextMotor impairment is a key-sign in patients with traumatic (WAD) and non-traumatic (INP) neck pain.PurposeThis study aims at analyzing differences in motor impairment between both groups, and assesses the association with self-reported symptoms.Study DesignCase control.Patient Sample38 patients with chronic INP, 35 patients with chronic WAD, and 30 healthy pain-free controls were included.Outcome measuresMobility (°), Strength (N), Repositioning accuracy (°), endurance (s), sway velocity (cm/s), sway area (cm²) and neuromuscular control.MethodsGroup differences of motor impairment together with questionnaires to evaluate pain intensity, fear avoidance, pain catastrophizing, symptoms of central sensitization, and disability were analyzed with Analysis of Covariance, including age as a covariate.ResultsMotor impairment was observed in both patient groups with a higher degree in patients with chronic WAD. These impairments were moderately linked to self-reported disability and were in most cases associated with pain, fear-avoidance, and symptoms of central sensitization (|ρ| ranging from 0.28 to 0.59).ConclusionMotor impairment should be addressed when treating both groups of patients, keeping in mind the association with self-reported pain and disability, fear-avoidance and central sensitization.



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