Relationships between pain thresholds, catastrophizing and gender in acute whiplash injury
From: Man Ther. 2009 Nov 4
The mechanisms underlying sensory hypersensitivity in acute whiplash associated disorders are not well understood. We examined the extent of the relationships between the sensory measures of pressure pain threshold and cold pain threshold, catastrophizing, pain and disability levels and gender in acute whiplash associated disorders. Thirty-seven subjects reporting neck pain following a motor vehicle accident were examined within five weeks post-injury. Measures of neck pain and disability (Neck Disability Index and catastrophizing (Pain Catastrophizing Scale) were taken. Cold pain threshold was assessed in the cervical spine and pressure pain thresholds were assessed in the cervical spine (pressure pain threshold cx) and at a remote site (pressure pain threshold distal). Cold pain threshold and Pain Catastrophizing Scale were moderately correlated; however there were no significant relationships between pressure pain threshold (cervical and distal) and Pain Catastrophizing Scale. Both cold pain threshold and pressure pain threshold cx were significantly correlated with Neck Disability Index but pressure pain threshold distal was not. Finally, gender modulated the relationships between sensory measures, catastrophizing, and pain and disability levels. In conclusion, subjects with higher levels of catastrophizing presented with sensory hypersensitivity to cold stimuli in the acute phase of whiplash. Differences between genders are in accordance with the growing body of evidence suggesting that the relationships between some psychological factors and injury related symptoms are modulated by gender.
