Pre- and post-operative gait analysis for evaluation of neck pain in chronic whiplash

INTRODUCTION: Chronic neck pain after whiplash is notoriously refractory to conservative treatment, and positive radiological findings to explain the symptoms are scarce. The apparent disproportionality between subjective complaints and objective findings is significant for the planning of treatment, impairment ratings, and judicial questions on causation. However, failure to identify a symptom's focal origin with routine imaging studies does not invalidate the symptom per se. It is therefore of a general interest both to develop effective therapeutic strategies in chronic whiplash, and to establish techniques for objectively evaluation of treatment outcomes. METHODS: Twelve patients with chronic neck pain after whiplash underwent pre- and postoperative computerized 3D gait analysis. RESULTS: Significant improvement was found in all gait parameters, cervical range-of-motion, and self reported pain (VAS). CONCLUSION: Chronic neck pain is associated with abnormal cervical spine motion and gait patterns. 3D gait analysis is a useful instrument to assess the outcome of treatment for neck pain.