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- Landén Ludvigsson, Maria, 1967-
(författare)
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Neck-specific exercise with or without a behavioural approach, or prescription of physical activity in chronic whiplash associated disorders
- 2016
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Background: Although 50% of those who suffer a whiplash injury still report neck pain after one year, there is a lack of knowledge about effective treatment for chronic whiplash associated disorders (WAD). Exercise is potentially useful, but the response to exercise in chronic WAD is highly variable between individuals and factors associated with good outcomes as well as the cost-effectiveness are unknown.Aim: The general aim of this thesis was to evaluate the effect on self-reported disability/ functioning, pain and selfefficacy of three different exercise interventions in chronic WAD grade 2 and 3, and to determine the cost-effectiveness of these interventions.Material and methods: A total of 216 participants with chronic WAD took part in this randomized, assessor blinded, controlled, clinical trial. Participants were randomized to either neck-specific exercise without (NSE), or with a behavioural approach (NSEB), or prescription of physical activity (PPA) for 12 weeks. Evaluations of change scores and proportion of clinically relevantly improved participants regarding disability/functioning (Neck Disability Index (NDI)/Patient Specific Functional Scale (PSFS)), pain (Visual Analogue Scale of current neck pain (VAS-P), pain bothersomeness (VAS-B)) and Self-efficacy (Self-Efficacy Scale (SES)) were made after 3, 6, 12 and 24 months. Secondary analyses were made, regarding factors associated with clinically relevant improvements in disability, pain and regarding cost-effectiveness.Results: Disability was more improved in the NSE/NSEB groups (NDI, P=0.02) than the PPA group, which reported no improvement, at 3 and 6 months, results remaining at 12 and 24 months (p ≤ 0.02). Functioning (PSFS) was also more improved in the NSE/NSEB groups than the PPA group at 3 months, in the NSEB compared to the PPA group at 6 months, and the NSE compared to the PPA groups at 12 and 24 months. The proportion of participants reaching clinically relevant improvement regarding NDI and PSFS was also larger in the NSE/NSEB groups at all time points (P<0.05), except NDI at 3 months and PSFS at 24 months. There were no differences between groups in VAS-P, VASB or SES change scores. The proportion of participants with clinically relevant reduction in VAS-P and VAS-B was however higher (P<0.02) in the NSE/NSEB groups compared with the PPA group at 3 and 12 months. Self-efficacy was only improved in the NSE group but without any between-group differences. There were no significant differences in any outcomes between the NSE/NSEB groups.The only significant factor associated with both clinically relevant improvements in disability and neck pain both at 3 and 12 months was participation in the NSE group, with odds up to 5.3 times higher than in the PPA group. Different baseline features were associated with the improvements depending on the outcome and time point examined. From a societal perspective, NSE was the cost-effective option.Conclusion: Physiotherapist-led neck-specific exercise resulted in better outcomes than prescription of physical activity regarding disability, functioning, and pain. The observed benefits of adding a behavioural approach to neck-specific exercise were inconclusive, and NSE was the cost-effective option from a societal perspective. Factors associated with clinically relevant improvements after exercise interventions in chronic WAD differed whether disability or neck pain was the outcome, but also differed in the short and long term. Participation in the NSE group was the only factor associated with both outcomes after both 3 and 12 months.
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| 2. |
- Rudolfsson, Thomas
(författare)
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Sensorimotor control and cervical range of motion in women with chronic neck pain : Kinematic assessments and effects of neck coordination exercise
- 2014
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Introduction: Neck pain is a common problem in society and is more prevalent among women. The consequences of neck pain for the individual often include activity and participation limitations, thus affecting many dimensions of life. There is still a lack of understanding of the underlying mechanisms of the disorder and likewise of efficient rehabilitation for people with neck pain. However, coordination exercises have shown promising short-term effects. To carry this line of research forward, there is a need to improve methods for objective characterization of impairments and to investigate novel methods of rehabilitation.Aims: To characterize impairments of active cervical range of motion of the upper and lower cervical levels in women with chronic neck pain with a novel method (Study I and II) and identify the influence of head posture and movement strategies (Study II). Further, to investigate the effects of a novel method for neck coordination exercise on sensorimotor function and neck pain (study III) and the consistencies of motor variability metrics in a goal directed arm movement task to aid the design of future clinical research (Study IV).Methods: All studies were laboratory based with kinematic assessments of neck movements (Study I-III), balance (Study III) and goal directed arm movements (Study III, IV). The studies had designs that were: cross-sectional (I and II), randomized controlled trial (III) or test-retest reliability study (IV). Participants in Study I (n=135) and II (n=160) were women with chronic non-specific neck pain and healthy controls. In Study III, women with chronic non-specific neck pain (n=108) were randomized into three different individually supervised 11 week interventions. Study IV included healthy women (n=14).Results: It was found that cervical range of motion impairments in women with non-specific neck pain were direction- and level-specific; impairments were greater in extension in the upper and flexion in the lower levels of the cervical spine. The magnitude of impairments in range of motion was associated to self-ratings of functioning and health. Possible group differences in natural head posture were rejected as a cause for the direction specific effects. Neither could the effects be explained by a strategy to minimize torque in the cervical spine during movement execution. The neck coordination training was not superior to strength training (best-available) and massage treatment (sham) in improving sensorimotor functions or pain according to short-term and 6 months follow ups. The results from the study of the goal directed movement task showed that between and within-subject sizes of most motor variability metrics were too large to make the test suitable for application in clinical research.Conclusions: Women with chronic non-specific neck pain have direction- and level-specific impairments in cervical sagittal range of motion. The underlying causes of these specific impairments remains unresolved, but the direction specific impairments are not related to natural head posture. The clinical validity of the method of characterization of cervical range of motion was supported and it can be useful in future clinical research. The novel method of neck coordination exercise showed no advantages on sensorimotor functions or pain compared with best-available treatment in women with chronic non-specific neck pain.
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| 3. |
- Hermansen, Anna
(författare)
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Clinical and patient-reported outcomes after anterior cervical decompression and fusion surgery : A focus on functioning and daily life
- 2015
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Anterior cervical decompression and fusion (ACDF), with or without an intervertebral cage to add support to the fused segment, is an established surgical treatment of cervical radiculopathy due to cervical disc disease. High recovery rates and pain reductions after surgery have been reported, with similar results with or without a cage. A few small studies have evaluated neck-related physical function and patient-reported disability with less promising results. No previous studies have evaluated clinical and patientreported measures of functioning or compared the Cloward Procedure with the Cervical Intervertebral Fusion Cage (CIFC) more than 10 year after surgery. No studies have explored the patients’ perspective on surgical outcome Knowledge on long-term functioning may provide a base for improved postoperative care and rehabilitation. Combining the perspectives of clinicians and patients may provide a better understanding of outcome after ACDF surgery than has previously been reported.The overall aim of the thesis was to evaluate long-term functioning after anterior cervical decompression and fusion surgery due to cervical disc disease, and to provide new insights into patients’ experiences of daily life after surgery.The more than 10-year patient-reported outcomes of pain, disability and psychosocial factors (n=77), as well as clinical outcomes of neck-related physical function (n=51) were evaluated and compared between the Cloward Procedure and the CIFC. Preoperative and surgery-related factors of importance for a good outcome in neck-related pain and disability at 10-year follow-up were also identified. Fourteen women were interviewed at 1.5 to 3 years after ACDF to explore their experiences of daily life.There were no differences between the surgical techniques in long-term neck-related pain or patient-reported disability. Secondary outcomes were, with a few exceptions, similar between groups. Neck-related pain decreased after surgery and remained improved from the 2-year to the 10-year follow-up. However, disability ratings remained improved only in the CIFC group. Predictors of a successful outcome in neck-related pain intensity were high preoperative neck-related pain intensity (Odds Ratio 1.06) and nonsmoking (Odds Ratio 3.03). Male gender was the only predictive factor of a successful outcome in neck-related disability (Odds Ratio 4.33). Moderate to severe pain and patient-reported disability were seen in half of the participants at the 10-year follow-up, and neck-related physical impairments were seen in between 18% (cervical flexion) and 82% (neck-muscle endurance) of participants. Daily life was experienced as recovered or improved by women after ACDF surgery. However they were at the same time affected and limited by remaining symptoms. Behaviors and activities were altered to adjust to the symptoms. Social support provided by family, social and occupational networks, and by healthcare professionals were experienced as important in a good daily life.In conclusion: long-term pain, physical function and patient-reported disability were similar between the two ACDF techniques. High preoperative pain intensity, non-smoking and male gender predicted a good long-term outcome. Individuals after ACDF surgery experienced improvements in pain intensity and a good effect of surgery although they simultaneously reported residual or recurrent disability.
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| 4. |
- Peterson, Gunnel, 1959-
(författare)
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Neck muscle function in individuals with persistent pain and disability after whiplash injury
- 2016
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Background: Neck pain and disability are common after whiplash injury. One year after the accident up to 50 % still have symptoms called whiplash associated disorders (WAD). Despite decades of research the cause of persistent pain and disability are largely unknown and effective treatment and diagnostic tools are lacking. Altered neck muscle function may cause pain and disability, and real-time non-invasive methods that investigate both superficial and deep neck muscle function need to be evaluated.Aim: The general aim of the work presented in this thesis was to investigate mechanical neck muscle function and evaluate effects of three different exercise interventions related to neck muscle function in individuals with persistent pain and disability after whiplash injury.Method: The thesis comprised two studies, reported in four papers. Study A was a prospective randomized controlled trail with 216 participants. The effects of three exercise interventions; neck-specific exercises, neck-specific exercises with behavioral approach and prescription of physical activity were evaluated. Neck muscle endurance, perceived pain following testing, kinesiophobia and satisfaction with treatment were compared between the three groups (paper I). Study B was an experimental case-control study with participants consecutively recruited from the randomized controlled trial. Deformation and deformation rates in the neck muscles were investigated with real-time ultrasound imaging during ten repetitive arm elevations (paper II-IV). To investigate ventral neck muscles, 26 individuals with WAD were compared with 26 healthy controls (paper II). The dorsal neck muscles were investigated in paper III, including 40 individuals with WAD and 40 controls. In total 46 individuals, 23 with WAD and 23 healthy controls were included in paper IV to develop ventral neck muscle interaction models.Results: Paper I: Participants in the two neck-specific exercise groups (with and without behavioral approach) showed increased dorsal neck muscle endurance (p = 0.003), decreased pain intensity following testing (p = 0.04) and were more satisfied with treatment (p < 0.001) than participants in the prescribed physical activity group. Kinesiophobia did not significantly differ between groups (p > 0.12).Paper II: Deformation and deformation rate showed linear positive relationship between ventral muscle pairs in healthy controls, especially between superficial and deep neck muscles. This relationship was weaker or absent in the WAD group.Paper III: The WAD group had higher deformation rates in the deepest dorsal neck muscles during the first and tenth (only women) arm elevations compared to the control group (p < 0.04). Women in the WAD group showed a weaker linear relationship between the two deepest dorsal neck muscles compared to women in the control group.Paper IV: The results revealed two different ventral neck muscle models in individuals with WAD and healthy controls (R2Y = 0.72, Q2Y = 0.59). The models were capable to detect different neck muscle interplay in people with WAD.Conclusion: Neck-specific exercise intervention with or without a behavioral approach appears to improve neck muscle endurance in individuals with persistent WAD. Decreased pain after the neck muscle endurance test also suggests improved tolerance of load in these two groups. Altered mechanical neck muscle function was revealed in individuals with WAD indicating decreased muscular support for maintain a stable cervical spine during repetitive arm elevations. The results show great promise for improved diagnosis of neck muscle function in WAD.
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| 5. |
- Wibault, Johanna, 1978-
(författare)
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Neck disability in patients with cervical radiculopathy and evaluation of structured postoperative physiotherapy
- 2015
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Non-surgical and surgical approaches to treatment are used in patients with cervical radiculopathy (CR) due to disc disease. Overall, good effects of surgery have been reported on arm pain and neurological symptoms. However, the effects on neck functioning are more uncertain. Studies have shown persistent activity limitations; participation restrictions; and impairments in neck-related body functions after surgery. Structured physiotherapy combining neck-specific exercises with a behavioural approach has been suggested as treatment before as well as after surgery to improve clinical outcomes in patients with CR. Randomized clinical trials of postoperative physiotherapy to inform evidence-based clinical guidelines for the treatment of patients with CR are lacking.The overall aim of the thesis was to investigate the additional benefit of structured postoperative physiotherapy combining neck-specific exercises with a behavioural approach compared to standard postoperative approach in patients with CR. A further aim was to evaluate the contribution of different aspects of neck-related body functions and mental functions on preoperative neck disability in these patients.A total of 202 patients with CR who were scheduled for surgery were recruited, and randomized preoperatively to either structured postoperative physiotherapy, or standard postoperative approach. Standard postoperative approach was in accordance with Swedish postoperative care, and may have included pragmatic physiotherapy after surgery when needed. Patients were evaluated with a set of questionnaires and clinical examinations before surgery and at 3 and 6 months after surgery. Outcomes included patient-reported measures of pain, neck functioning, global outcome, clinical evaluation of neckrelated body functions, self-efficacy and coping strategies, as well as expectation fulfilment and enablement. Differences between treatment groups were investigated in complete case and per-protocol approaches (Paper III & IV). A sub-sample of patients with CR who were scheduled for surgery were also compared with neck-healthy individuals for assessment of head repositioning accuracy with a cervical range of motion device (Paper I). In patients with CR who were scheduled for surgery, associations between preoperative measures of neck-related body functions, mental functions, and other contextual factors with patientreported neck disability were studied (Paper II).With the exception of greater expectation fulfilment in patients who received structured postoperative physiotherapy (p = 0.01), there were no differences between the treatment groups in outcomes at 6 months after surgery. There were no differences reported for changes in outcomes from before surgery to 6 months after surgery between the groups, but all outcomes significantly improved from baseline in both groups (p<0.001) (Paper III & IV). However, global outcome and frequency of neck pain improved during the postoperative period only in patients who received structured postoperative physiotherapy (p< 0.01) (Paper III). Six months after surgery, patients with at least 50% attendance to treatment sessions in the structured postoperative physiotherapy group reported less neck pain frequency (p = 0.05), and greater expectation fulfilment (p = 0.001), and enablement (p = 0.04) than those who received standard postoperative approach. These patients also had larger improvements in neck functioning, arm pain and catastrophizing during the rehabilitation period from 3 to 6 months after surgery (p< 0.03). Sixty-one percent of the patients who received standard postoperative approach reported additional use ofpostoperative physiotherapy. These patients had a worse surgical outcome compared with patients who reported no additional use of postoperative physiotherapy. In patients with CR who were scheduled for surgery, larger errors in head repositioning accuracy were found compared to neck-healthy individuals (Paper I). Preoperative measures of neck-related body functions, mental functions and other contextual factors explained 73% of the variance in Neck Disability Index scores in patients with CR who were scheduled for surgery (Paper II).The results may suggest a benefit from combining surgery with structured postoperative physiotherapy in patients with CR. Moreover, the results confirm that neck-specific exercises are tolerated by patients with CR after surgery. However, CR is a heterogeneous condition and specific subgroups of patients are likely to benefit from different interventions. More studies are needed to inform evidence-based clinical guidelines for the treatment of patients with CR. A broader preoperative assessment in patients with CR improved the description of patient-reported neck disability.
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