Cervical lateral glide increases nociceptive flexion reflex threshold but not pressure or thermal pain thresholds in chronic whiplash associated disorders: A pilot randomised controlled trial
Author(s)
Sterling, Michele
Pedler, Ashley
Chan, Cliffton
Puglisi, Madonna
Vuvan, Viana
Vicenzino, Bill
Griffith University Author(s)
Year published
2010
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Sensory hypersensitivity indicative of augmented central pain processing is a feature of chronic whiplash associated disorders (WAD). This study investigated the immediate effects of a cervical spine manual therapy (SMT) technique on measures of central hyperexcitability. In a randomised, single blind, clinical trial, 39 participants with chronic WAD were randomly assigned to a cervical SMT (lateral glide) or manual contact intervention. The Neck Disability Index (NDI) and GHQ-28 were administered at baseline. Pressure pain thresholds (PPTs), thermal pain thresholds (TPTs) and Nociceptive Flexion Reflex (NFR) responses ...
View more >Sensory hypersensitivity indicative of augmented central pain processing is a feature of chronic whiplash associated disorders (WAD). This study investigated the immediate effects of a cervical spine manual therapy (SMT) technique on measures of central hyperexcitability. In a randomised, single blind, clinical trial, 39 participants with chronic WAD were randomly assigned to a cervical SMT (lateral glide) or manual contact intervention. The Neck Disability Index (NDI) and GHQ-28 were administered at baseline. Pressure pain thresholds (PPTs), thermal pain thresholds (TPTs) and Nociceptive Flexion Reflex (NFR) responses (threshold and VAS of pain) were measured pre and post intervention. There was a significantly greater increase in NFR threshold following SMT compared to the manual contact intervention (p = 0.04). PPTs at the cervical spine increased following both SMT (mean ᠓E: 24.1 ᠷ.3%) and manual contact (21 ᠸ.4%) with no difference between interventions. There was no difference between interventions for pain ratings with the NFR test, PPTs at the Median Nerve or Tibialis Anterior, heat or cold TPT. SMT may be effective in reducing spinal hyperexcitability in chronic WAD.
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View more >Sensory hypersensitivity indicative of augmented central pain processing is a feature of chronic whiplash associated disorders (WAD). This study investigated the immediate effects of a cervical spine manual therapy (SMT) technique on measures of central hyperexcitability. In a randomised, single blind, clinical trial, 39 participants with chronic WAD were randomly assigned to a cervical SMT (lateral glide) or manual contact intervention. The Neck Disability Index (NDI) and GHQ-28 were administered at baseline. Pressure pain thresholds (PPTs), thermal pain thresholds (TPTs) and Nociceptive Flexion Reflex (NFR) responses (threshold and VAS of pain) were measured pre and post intervention. There was a significantly greater increase in NFR threshold following SMT compared to the manual contact intervention (p = 0.04). PPTs at the cervical spine increased following both SMT (mean ᠓E: 24.1 ᠷ.3%) and manual contact (21 ᠸ.4%) with no difference between interventions. There was no difference between interventions for pain ratings with the NFR test, PPTs at the Median Nerve or Tibialis Anterior, heat or cold TPT. SMT may be effective in reducing spinal hyperexcitability in chronic WAD.
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Journal Title
Manual Therapy
Volume
15
Issue
2
Subject
Clinical sciences
Clinical sciences not elsewhere classified
Sports science and exercise