Clinical trial NCT03664934: Pathophysiological Mechanism Behind Prolonged Whiplash Associated Disorders
Official title: Pathophysiological Mechanism Behind Prolonged Whiplash Associated Disorders
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: NA
Conditions: Whiplash Injuries
Keywords: Neck pain, Rehabilitation, Muscles, Clinical Trial,
Diagnostics
Lead sponsor: Linkoeping University
Sponsor class: OTHER_GOV
First posted: 2018-09-11
Enrollment: 60
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Maximum age (years): 63
Standard ages: ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Allocation: NON_RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Primary purpose: DIAGNOSTIC

Brief summary: The knowledge of pathophysiological mechanisms behind prolonged Whiplash Associated Disorders (WAD) is insufficient and whether changes can be restored by rehabilitation or not is unknown. The aim of these studies are to investigate different parameters to further learn about pathophysiological mechanisms (neck muscle fatty infiltration, cross-sectional area, volume, inflammation and function, brain structure and activity, biomarkers for stress and inflammation, cervical kinaesthesia and balance before and after intervention) and the association for clinical outcomes in individuals with chronic WAD (n=30) compared with age and gender matched healthy individuals (n=30). Measurements will be made at baseline (patients and healthy) and at 3 months (patients only, at the end of treatment). However, for the blood and saliva samples, they will be re-investigated in the healthy group as well. The study results may contribute to the development of improved understanding and diagnostics in chronic WAD that may improve future rehabilitation.

Detailed description: BACKGROUND There is no consensus regarding the injury mechanism in complex prolonged Whiplash Associated Disorders (WAD) cases. Often, tissue damage and physiological alterations is not detectable. In order to improve future rehabilitation, a greater understanding of the mechanisms underlying whiplash injury and their importance for treatment success is required. It is also important to investigate if pathophysiological changes can be restored by rehabilitation.

AIM The projects aims to investigate neck muscle structure and function, biomarkers and the association with pain, disability and other outcomes before and after neck-specific exercises.

METHODS Design These are sub-group trials, each one independent of the others, in a prospective, multicentre, randomized controlled trial (RCT) with two parallel treatment arms conducted according to a protocol established before recruitment started (ClinicalTrials.gov Protocol ID: NCT03022812). Physiotherapist-led neck-specific exercise previously shown to be effective for the current population constitutes the control treatment for the new Internet-based neck-specific exercise treatment. In the RCT, a total of 140 patients will be included (70 from each group), whereof 30 (both randomization arms equally) consecutively will be asked to participate in the present sub-group study. The sub-group studies aims to start September 2019. Independent physiotherapists in primary health care will distribute the treatment.

In sub-group of individuals, additional measurements will be performed before and after interventions end (3 months follow-up). The physical measurements will be performed by independent specially trained test-leaders blinded to randomization.

Additionally, 30 neck healthy individuals without serious diseases matched for age and gender will consecutively be investigated.

Study population

The inclusion criteria for patients are:

* Chronic neck problems corresponding to WAD grades 2-3 verified by clinical examination
* Average estimated pain in the last week at least 20 mm on the visual analogue scale (VAS)
* Neck disability of more than 20% on the Neck Disability Index (NDI) \[10\]
* Working age (18 - 63 years)
* Daily access to a computer/tablet/smart phone and Internet
* Neck symptoms within the first week after the injury (i.e., neck pain, neck stiffness, or cervical radiculopathy).

For the present sub group study additional criteria were:

* Right handed
* Dominant right sided or equal sided pain

Inclusion criteria for healthy controls:

• Age and gender matched healthy individuals without neck pain and disability (VAS \<10mm, NDI \<5%) that feel overall healthy without known diseases.

Exclusion criteria for patients:

* Individuals with any of the following signs of head injury at the time of whiplash injury will be excluded: loss of consciousness, amnesia before or after the injury, altered mental status (e.g., confusion, disorientation), focal neurological changes (changes in smell and taste).
* Previous fractures or dislocation of the cervical spine
* Known or suspected serious physical pathology included myelopathy,
* Spinal tumours
* Spinal infection
* Ongoing malignancy
* Previous severe neck problems that resulted in sick leave for more than a month in the year before the current whiplash injury
* surgery in the cervical spine
* Generalized or more dominant pain elsewhere in the body
* Other illness/injury that may prevent full participation
* Inability to understand and write in Swedish

Additional criteria in the present sub group:

* Increased risk of bleeding,
* BMI \>35
* Contraindications of MRI such as metal, severe obesity, pacemaker and pregnancy.

Exclusion criteria for healthy controls:

* Earlier neck injury,
* Recurrent neck pain,
* Earlier treatment for neck pain.
* Increased risk of bleeding,
* BMI \>35
* Contraindications of MRI

Recruitment and randomization Information about the study will be provided by healthcare providers, reports in newspapers, social media, and the university's website. Interested patients will contact the research team through the project website. After completing a small survey on the website, a project team member (physiotherapist) will perform a telephone interview and ask about the patient's medical history. An appointment for a physical examination and additional interview for the present sub-group study is made as a last step to ensure that the criteria for study participation are met. If the study criteria are met, written and oral informed consent are obtained, and the patient will fill out a questionnaire and undergo physical measurements of neck-related function. Baseline measurements must be completed for inclusion.

Healthy individuals will consecutively be recruited among friends, family and staff at the university or the university hospital to suit the age and gender of a patient.

Intervention for the patient group The intervention consists of neck-specific exercises distributed in two different ways, twice a week at the physiotherapist clinic for 3 months (NSE group) or with 4 physiotherapy visits only combined with a web-based system (NSEIT group).

A. In the NSE group, patients will get an explanation and justification for the exercise consisting of basic information about the musculoskeletal anatomy of the neck relevant to the exercises given by the physiotherapist in order to motivate the patient and help make them feel safe and reassured. The patients undergo a 12-week training programme with a physiotherapist 2 days/week (total 24 times). Exercises are chosen from a clear and written frame of exercises. The training includes exercises for the deep neck muscles, continuing with the endurance training of neck and shoulder muscles. The exercises are individually adjusted according to the individual's physical conditions and progressively increased in severity and dose. Exercise-related pain provocation is not accepted. The patient may also perform exercises at home. At the end of the treatment period, the participants are encouraged to continue practising on their own. The exercises have been used with good results in previous RCTs.

B. In the NSEIT group, patients will receive the same information and training programmes as the NSE group, but with 4 visits to the physiotherapist instead of 24. Exercises are introduced, progressed, and followed up to ensure correct performance. The exercises are performed and most of the information is given with the help of Internet support outside the healthcare system. Photos and videos of the exercises (a clear stepwise progression) and information are available on the Web-based system. A SMS reminder is automatically available if the exercise diary is not completed. The time required for training is the same as in group A, but without the patient having to go to the physiotherapy clinic. The Internet programme was developed by experienced physiotherapists/ researchers together with technicians and clinicians. Technicians are available to assist the participants if any technical difficulties arise. The patients will be introduced to the exercises and get information and support at the physiotherapy visits.

Variables and measurements Background data and data in the RCT include personal details, questionnaires and test results regarding pain, physical and psychological functioning, health and cost-effectiveness described elsewhere (ClinicalTrials.gov Protocol ID: NCT03022812).

Measurements will be done at baseline for both groups and at 3 months follow-up for the patient when treatment ends. Except for blood and saliva samples that will be collected twice (baseline and repeated after 3 months), the measurements will be performed at baseline only for the healthy individuals.

Eligibility criteria: Study population

The inclusion criteria for patients are:

* Chronic neck problems corresponding to WAD grades 2-3 verified by clinical examination
* Average estimated pain in the last week at least 20 mm on the visual analogue scale (VAS)
* Neck disability of more than 20% on the Neck Disability Index (NDI) \[10\]
* Working age (18 - 63 years)
* Daily access to a computer/tablet/smart phone and Internet
* Neck symptoms within the first week after the injury (i.e., neck pain, neck stiffness, or cervical radiculopathy).

For the present sub group study additional criteria were:

* Right handed
* Dominant right sided or equal sided pain

Inclusion criteria for healthy controls:

• Age and gender matched healthy individuals without neck pain and disability (VAS \<10mm, NDI \<5%) that feel overall healthy without known diseases.

Exclusion criteria for patients:

* Individuals with any of the following signs of head injury at the time of whiplash injury will be excluded: loss of consciousness, amnesia before or after the injury, altered mental status (e.g., confusion, disorientation), focal neurological changes (changes in smell and taste).
* Previous fractures or dislocation of the cervical spine
* Known or suspected serious physical pathology included myelopathy,
* Spinal tumours
* Spinal infection
* Ongoing malignancy
* Previous severe neck problems that resulted in sick leave for more than a month in the year before the current whiplash injury
* surgery in the cervical spine
* Generalized or more dominant pain elsewhere in the body
* Other illness/injury that may prevent full participation
* Inability to understand and write in Swedish

Additional criteria in the present sub group:

* Increased risk of bleeding,
* BMI \>35
* Contraindications of MRI such as metal, severe obesity, pacemaker and pregnancy.

Exclusion criteria for healthy controls:

* Earlier neck injury,
* Recurrent neck pain,
* Earlier treatment for neck pain.
* Increased risk of bleeding,
* BMI \>35
* Contraindications of MRI such as metal, severe obesity, pacemaker and pregnancy.

Primary outcomes:
measure: Speckle tracking analyses of neck and shoulder muscle function
timeFrame: Baseline and at 3 months follow-up when intervention ended. The outcome measure is going to report a change over time for patients.
measure: Cross-sectional area, volume, fatty infiltration and inflammation of neck muscles
timeFrame: Baseline, 3 months. The outcome measure is going to report a change over time for patients.
measure: Brain function in cortical networks related to pain
timeFrame: Baseline, 3 months. The outcome measure is going to report a change over time for patients.
measure: Biomarkers for inflammation and stress
timeFrame: Baseline, 3 months. The outcome measure is going to report a change over time for patients.
measure: Cervikal kinaesthesia
timeFrame: Baseline, 3 months. The outcome measure is going to report a change over time for patients.
measure: Balance test
timeFrame: Baseline, 3 months. The outcome measure is going to report a change over time for patients.
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Neck Disability Index (NDI)
timeFrame: Change from baseline to 3 months (the end of treatment) and 15 months (1 year after study treatment is finalized) follow-up
measure: Whiplash Disability Questionnaire
timeFrame: Change from baseline to 3 months (the end of treatment) and 15 months (1 year after study treatment is finalized) follow-up
measure: Patient-specific functional scale (PSFS)
timeFrame: Change from baseline to 3 months (the end of treatment) and 15 months (1 year after study treatment is finalized) follow-up
measure: Pain intensity in neck, head, and arm and dizziness by a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) (0-100 mm; where 0=no pain, 100= worst imaginable pain )
timeFrame: Change from baseline to 3 months (the end of treatment) and 15 months (1 year after study treatment is finalized) follow-up
measure: Distribution of pain by a pain drawing assessed with images
timeFrame: Change from baseline to 3 months (the end of treatment) and 15 months (1 year after study treatment is finalized) follow-up
measure: Frequency of pain
timeFrame: Change from baseline to 3 months (the end of treatment) and 15 months (1 year after study treatment is finalized) follow-up
measure: Use of pain medications
timeFrame: Change from baseline to 3 months (the end of treatment) and 15 months (1 year after study treatment is finalized) follow-up
measure: Dizziness/balance by the Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI)
timeFrame: Change from baseline to 3 months (the end of treatment) and 15 months (1 year after study treatment is finalized) follow-up
measure: Headache Questions by VAS and the Headache Impact Test (HIT-6)
timeFrame: Change from baseline to 3 months (the end of treatment) and 15 months (1 year after study treatment is finalized) follow-up
measure: Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS), total scores range from 0 - 52; 0=no catastrophizing, 52= maximum catastrophizing
timeFrame: Change from baseline to 3 months (the end of treatment) and 15 months (1 year after study treatment is finalized) follow-up
measure: EuroQuol five dimensions
timeFrame: Change from baseline to 3 months (the end of treatment) and 15 months (1 year after study treatment is finalized) follow-up
measure: Effort Reward Imbalance questionnaire
timeFrame: Change from baseline to 3 months (the end of treatment) and 15 months (1 year after study treatment is finalized) follow-up
measure: Symptoms Satisfaction scale
timeFrame: Change from baseline to 3 months (the end of treatment) and 15 months (1 year after study treatment is finalized) follow-up
measure: Physical activity score, a combination score of the 2 questions (everyday physical activity and exercise/sport/open-air activity) to a combined 4-point score
timeFrame: Change from baseline to 3 months (the end of treatment) and 15 months (1 year after study treatment is finalized) follow-up
measure: Health care consumption, number of visits
timeFrame: Change from baseline to 3 months (the end of treatment) and 15 months (1 year after study treatment is finalized) follow-up
measure: Self-Efficacy Scale (SES)
timeFrame: Change from baseline to 3 months (the end of treatment) and 15 months (1 year after study treatment is finalized) follow-up
measure: Fear Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire (FABQ)
timeFrame: Change from baseline to 3 months (the end of treatment) and 15 months (1 year after study treatment is finalized) follow-up
measure: Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAD)
timeFrame: Change from baseline to 3 months (the end of treatment) and 15 months (1 year after study treatment is finalized) follow-up
measure: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder checklist (PCL-S)
timeFrame: Change from baseline to 3 months (the end of treatment) and 15 months (1 year after study treatment is finalized) follow-up
measure: Range of neck motion
timeFrame: Change from baseline to 3 months (the end of treatment) and 15 months (1 year after study treatment is finalized) follow-up
measure: Ergonomics questions and how work is perceived
timeFrame: Change from baseline to 3 months (the end of treatment) and 15 months (1 year after study treatment is finalized) follow-up
measure: Sickness presence by the Stanford presenteeism scale (SPS-6)
timeFrame: Change from baseline to 3 months (the end of treatment) and 15 months (1 year after study treatment is finalized) follow-up
measure: Patient Enablement Instrument (PEI) questionnaire
timeFrame: Change from baseline to 3 months (the end of treatment) and 15 months (1 year after study treatment is finalized) follow-up
measure: Consumption of analgesic drugs prescribed through the drug registry
timeFrame: Change from baseline to 3 months (the end of treatment) and 15 months (1 year after study treatment is finalized) follow-up
measure: Sick-leave registration, number of days and episodes
timeFrame: Change from baseline to 3 months (the end of treatment) and 15 months (1 year after study treatment is finalized) follow-up
measure: Cognitive failures questionnaire (CFQ)
timeFrame: Change from baseline to 3 months (the end of treatment) and 15 months (1 year after study treatment is finalized) follow-up
measure: Sensorimotor control of the neck muscles, mm Hg
timeFrame: Change from baseline to 3 months (the end of treatment) and 15 months (1 year after study treatment is finalized) follow-up
measure: Neck muscle endurance of ventral and dorsal neck muscles in seconds
timeFrame: Change from baseline to 3 months (the end of treatment) and 15 months (1 year after study treatment is finalized) follow-up
measure: Balance measured in seconds, standing on one leg with eyes closed
timeFrame: Change from baseline to 3 months (the end of treatment) and 15 months (1 year after study treatment is finalized) follow-up
measure: Neurology
timeFrame: Change from baseline to 3 months (the end of treatment) and 15 months (1 year after study treatment is finalized) follow-up
measure: Work Ability Index (WAI)
timeFrame: Change from baseline to 3 months (the end of treatment) and 15 months (1 year after study treatment is finalized) follow-up
measure: Global rating of change scale
timeFrame: Change from baseline to 3 months (the end of treatment) and 15 months (1 year after study treatment is finalized) follow-up
Other outcomes:
measure: Background data such as age and gender, living circumstances
timeFrame: Baseline
Locations:
city: Linköping
country: Sweden
facility: Linköping University
state: Östergötland
Study officials:
affiliation: Linkoeping University
name: Anneli Peolsson, Professor
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References:
citation: Peolsson A, Karlsson A, Ghafouri B, Ebbers T, Engstrom M, Jonsson M, Wahlen K, Romu T, Borga M, Kristjansson E, Bahat HS, German D, Zsigmond P, Peterson G. Pathophysiology behind prolonged whiplash associated disorders: study protocol for an experimental study. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2019 Feb 2;20(1):51. doi: 10.1186/s12891-019-2433-3.