Published in:
Open Access 01-12-2019 | Physical Therapy | Research article
Effect of intensive inpatient physical therapy on whole-body indefinite symptoms in patients with whiplash-associated disorders
Published in: BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders | Issue 1/2019
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Background
A considerable number of patients with whiplash-associated disorders (WAD) report variable and indefinite symptoms involving the whole body, despite there being no evidence of direct injuries to organs other than the neck. However, little is known about their management or underlying mechanism. This study examined the effect of intensive physical therapy at the cervical muscles in patients with WAD reporting whole-body indefinite symptoms.
Methods
A total of 194 hospitalized patients with WAD who were resistant to outpatient care by reporting whole-body indefinite symptoms between May 2006 and May 2017 were enrolled in this observational study. All patients underwent daily physical therapies by low-frequency electric stimulation therapy and far-infrared irradiation to the cervical muscles during hospitalization. Self-rated records in the medical interview sheets on 22 representative whole-body symptoms at admission and discharge were compared.
Results
The number of symptoms was markedly decreased by the physical therapies during hospitalization. Almost all symptoms showed recovery rates of more than 80% at discharge as compared to those at admission. Although the percentage of patients reporting at least four of the 22 representative indefinite symptoms was 99.0% at admission, it decreased to 7.7% at discharge. Sixteen percent of patients recovered completely without any residual symptoms. The mean number of symptoms significantly decreased from 13.1 at admission to 2.0 at discharge. Notably, symptoms other than those in the neck or shoulder recovered to a greater extent than those in the neck or shoulder.
Conclusions
This study, for the first time, examined the management of whole-body indefinite symptoms in patients with WAD. The intensive physical therapy markedly improved the symptoms, suggesting the involvement of cervical muscles in the pathogenesis.
Trial registration
UMIN000035435 (Retrospectively registered on Jan 3, 2019).