Not Yet RecruitingNot Applicable

PROCO Neck: The Course and Neuroplasticity in Neck Pain-Associated Disorders and Whiplash-Associated Disorders

Switzerland168 participantsStarted 2022-09-01

Plain-language summary

Neck pain-associated disorders (NAD) and whiplash-associated disorders (WAD) are major health problems. NAD has a lifetime prevalence of 54%. Although the majority of patients recovers within the first three months, a minority develops persistent pain. WAD, in contrast, is reported less frequently, but patients are often suffering more badly. Patients with chronic symptoms represent a considerable burden in terms of pain, suffering, health care needs, and social costs. Findings on the natural course of NAD and WAD reflect the necessity to identify factors besides pain related to the persistence of symptoms. First, alterations of input and processing of multiple sensory modalities causing movement control impairment can result in persistent symptoms and affect the quality of life. Besides, findings of psychosocial factors predictive of pain outcomes support the growing body of research proposing a bidirectional relationship between somatic and psychosocial variables. In particular, there is a pressing need to investigate pain-related activity patterns, besides fear-avoidance behavior in NAD and WAD. Maladaptive activity pattern have an impact on on pain and disability in the long-term prognosis. Mt important, given the high prevalence of NAD and WAD, the cortical representation of the cervical spine has not yet been investigated and, reports on neuroplasticity remain scarce. These shortcomings should be addressed to provide evidence for the temporal aspect of neuroplasticity and its involvement in pain persistence. Hypotheses: We hypothesize I. that impaired sensorimotor abilities, mental health at baseline increase pain intensity and disability during measurement. II. that maladaptive pain-related activity patterns avoidance and overactivity at baseline are prognostic factors for pain persistence and disability. III. that the WAD cohort shows more depression, anxiety and stress compared to the NAD cohort.

Who can participate

Age range18 Years – 65 Years

SexALL

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AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * NAD cohort; neck pain without an acceleration-deceleration mechanism, inclusion \< 1 month since onset of pain * WAD cohort; neck pain resulting from a traumatic acceleration-deceleration mechanism and classified as WAD Grade I-III on the modified Quebec Task Force Scale98, inclusion \< 1 month since onset of pain * In recurrence, no pain in the previous three months * Age between 18 and 65 years at baseline * Ability to read, write, and understand German for completing the questionnaires. Exclusion Criteria: * For both cohorts; a clinically relevant anatomical anomaly in the cervical spine (e.g., carcinoma), spine surgery; peripheral or central neurological illness, pregnancy, or women who gave birth in the last year (to avoid the confounding effects of pregnancy-related NAD) * For the WAD cohort, WAD Grade IV on the modified Quebec Task Force Scale (Fracture of dislocation), patients who lost consciousness due to the traumatic event and post-traumatic amnesia to exclude mild traumatic brain injury.

What they're measuring

Pain intensity

Timeframe: 1 year

Disability

Timeframe: 1 year

Trial details

NCT IDNCT05468684

SponsorUniversity of applied sciences

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeOBSERVATIONAL

Primary completion2024-05-31

Contact for this trial

Rita Morf, MSc

+41 58 934 60 39 moff@zhaw.ch