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BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders
Published in: BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders 1/2022

Open Access 01-12-2022 | Magnetic Resonance Imaging | Research

Morphology and composition of the ventral neck muscles in individuals with chronic whiplash related disorders compared to matched healthy controls: a cross-sectional case–control study

Authors: Anneli Peolsson, Anette Karlsson, Gunnel Peterson, Hanna Borén, Peter Zsigmond, James M. Elliott, Olof Dahlqvist Leinhard

Published in: BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders | Issue 1/2022

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Abstract

Background

Objective

Studies of cross-sectional area (CSA) (morphology) and muscle fat infiltration (MFI) (composition) in ventral neck muscles is scarce in patients with chronic whiplash associated disorders (WAD), especially for men and those with severe WAD compared with matched healthy controls. The aim was to compare CSA and MFI of sternocleidomastoid (SCM), longus capitis (LCA) and longus colli (LCO) in patients with chronic right-sided dominant moderate (Neck Disability Index: NDI < 40) or severe WAD (NDI ≥ 40), compared to age- and sex-matched healthy controls.

Methods

Cross-sectional case–control study with blinded investigators. Thirty-one patients with chronic WAD (17 women and 14 men, mean age 40 years) (SD 12.6, range 20–62)) and 31 age- and sex-matched healthy controls underwent magnetic resonance imaging of ventral neck muscles segmental level C4.

Results

Unique to the severe group was a larger magnitude of MFI in right SCM (p = 0.02) compared with healthy controls. There was no significant difference between the groups with regards to the other muscles and measures.

Conclusions

Individuals with severe right-sided dominant WAD have a higher MFI in the right SCM compared to healthy controls. No other differences were found between the groups. The present study indicates that there are changes in the composition of muscles on the side of greatest pain.
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Metadata
Title
Morphology and composition of the ventral neck muscles in individuals with chronic whiplash related disorders compared to matched healthy controls: a cross-sectional case–control study
Authors
Anneli Peolsson
Anette Karlsson
Gunnel Peterson
Hanna Borén
Peter Zsigmond
James M. Elliott
Olof Dahlqvist Leinhard
Publication date
01-12-2022
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders / Issue 1/2022
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2474
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-022-05811-x

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