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

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)).