A Distinct Pattern of Myofascial Findings in Patients After Whiplash Injury

Ettlin T, Schuster C, Stoffel R, Brüderlin A, Kischka U

Objective: To identify objective clinical examinations for the diagnosis of whiplash syndrome, whereby we focused on trigger points. This was a cross-sectional study with 1 measurement point.

Results: Forty (85.1%) of the patients with whiplash had positive trigger points in the semispinalis capitis muscle. The patients with whiplash had a significantly higher prevalence of positive trigger points in the semispinalis capitis muscle than any of the control groups (P<.05). For the other examined muscles, the prevalence of trigger points in the patients with whiplash did not differ significantly from the patients with fibromyalgia or nontraumatic chronic cervical syndrome. It did differ from the patients with endogenous depression and the healthy controls.

Conclusions: Patients with whiplash showed a distinct pattern of trigger point distribution that differed significantly from other patient groups and healthy subjects. The semispinalis capitis muscle was more frequently affected by trigger points in patients with whiplash, whereas other neck and shoulder muscles and the masseter muscle did not differentiate between patients with whiplash and patients with nontraumatic chronic cervical syndrome or fibromyalgia.

Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Volume 89, Issue 7, Pages 1290-1293 (July 2008)

doi:10.1016/j.apmr.2007.11.041

Filed under: Cervical, Spine, Trigger points, Whiplash Injuries