When we think of the term “whiplash injury,” we likely think of car crashes. Whiplash can result from causes like a fall or sports collision. Whiplash associates with many symptoms and neck pain with lower pain thresholds is one of the most common. Neck pain also occurs in the absence of trauma or a known pathology. This is known as mechanical neck pain (MNP).
Past research has shown that the combination of manual therapies and neck-specific exercises can benefit patients with neck pain. But, is there different treatment responses between whiplash patients and MNP patients?
Whiplash Study
A 2017 study evaluated this question. Researchers recruited 28 patients with either grade I or II whiplash and 22 MNP patients. The patients in the MNP group include those whose symptoms provoke changes in cervical posture, neck movement, and palpation of certain neck muscles. The research team measured neck pain intensity, neck-related disability, pain area, cervical range of motion, and pressure pain thresholds both initially at baseline and again after six treatment sessions.
The results revealed that whiplash sufferers initially had significantly higher pain-related disabilities, larger pain areas, and central sensitization. Investigators observed that after six treatments, the patients in both groups achieved similar improvements. This is with respect to cervical range of motion (flexion/extension, left/right side bending, and rotation), neck pain intensity, neck pain-related disability, pain area, and pressure point thresholds. However, whiplash patients continue to experience a lower pain threshold than participants in the MNP group.
Conclusion
For whiplash patients, another 2017 study demonstrated that treating painful myofascial trigger points can help restore pain thresholds. Chiropractors frequently utilize the two treatment approaches from this study manual therapy and specific neck exercises. In addition to other management approaches, manual therapy achieves successful outcomes for patients with neck pain, either whiplash or MNP.
