A 2008 study compared T-1 weighted MRI images of subjects with whiplash associated disorders and healthy controls. The authors found a higher level of fat within all extensor muscles in the neck of the whiplash group. The whiplash group also had reduced pressure pain thresholds and reduced hot/cold pain thresholds. (This may explain why people who have had previous whiplash injuries can develop chronic pain and can easily re-injure themselves.)
They hypothesize that the fatty infiltrate may be due to nerve damage and/or the inflammatory response with subsequent disuse of the neck muscles after the whiplash injury.
They would like to study this more to see what treatment would be best for whiplash and if the treatment would reduce the fatty deposits. The degree of fat may also be useful in determining if the patient will have good results or not.
resource: National Injury Diagnostics, 2/08.
If you have any questions please contact Dr. Dan Thibodeau at 920-954-1002 or at DrDan1221@yahoo.com.
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