Postural stability in subjects with whiplash injury symptoms: results of a pilot study

Abstract

CONCLUSIONS: Posturographic tests can be used to assess and confirm the body's imbalance in subjects with whiplash injury. Further studies with larger cohorts are necessary to confirm this pilot study. OBJECTIVES: To verify through a posturographic exam the qualitative and quantitative alterations of postural stability in subjects with previous cervical trauma in comparison with healthy subjects. METHODS: A total of 42 subjects were analysed for the study; 22 as the control group (NM) and 20 (WM) with a positive anamnesis of whiplash injury from 3 to 12 month from diagnosis through a force platform. Centre of pressure (CoP) movements of the two groups with their eyes open and closed were recorded. RESULTS: During the closed eye test, the subjects with cervical injuries displayed a significant increase in the anterior-posterior oscillation velocity (p < 0.05) compared with the control group, with a significant reduction (p < 0.01) of the ratio between the shifting length (SL) of CoP on the polygon support and the total envelope area (EA, mm(2)) of CoP movements in the polygon support (SL/EA-ratio, mm(-1)).