PROCO Neck: The Course and Neuroplasticity in Neck Pain-Associated Disorders and Whiplash-Associated Disorders

Summary

Neck pain-associated disorders (NAD) and whiplash-associated disorders (WAD) are major health problems. NAD has a lifetime prevalence of 54%. Although the majority of patients recovers within the first three months, a minority develops persistent pain. WAD, in contrast, is reported less frequently, but patients are often suffering more badly. Patients with chronic symptoms represent a considerable burden in terms of pain, suffering, health care needs, and social costs. Findings on the natural course of NAD and WAD reflect the necessity to identify factors besides pain related to the persistence of symptoms. First, alterations of input and processing of multiple sensory modalities causing movement control impairment can result in persistent symptoms and affect the quality of life. Besides, findings of psychosocial factors predictive of pain outcomes support the growing body of research proposing a bidirectional relationship between somatic and psychosocial variables. In particular, there is a pressing need to investigate pain-related activity patterns, besides fear-avoidance behavior in NAD and WAD. Maladaptive activity pattern have an impact on on pain and disability in the long-term prognosis. Mt important, given the high prevalence of NAD and WAD, the cortical representation of the cervical spine has not yet been investigated and, reports on neuroplasticity remain scarce. These shortcomings should be addressed to provide evidence for the temporal aspect of neuroplasticity and its involvement in pain persistence.

Hypotheses:

We hypothesize I. that impaired sensorimotor abilities, mental health at baseline increase pain intensity and disability during measurement.

II. that maladaptive pain-related activity patterns avoidance and overactivity at baseline are prognostic factors for pain persistence and disability.

III. that the WAD cohort shows more depression, anxiety and stress compared to the NAD cohort.

Conditions

• Neck Pain
• Whiplash
• Pain, Acute
• Psychosocial Functioning
• Activity, Motor
• Alteration of Cognitive Function
• Pain, Chronic
• Pain Catastrophizing
• Overactivity; Behavior

Interventions

OTHER

no intervention

there are no interventions planned, we observe the patients in a cohort study which is named inception cohort study because we test participants before the condition develops.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Swiss National Science Foundation

  collaborator OTHER

• University of applied sciences

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Sabina Hotz-Boendermaker · University of applied sciences

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

65 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2022-09-01

Primary Completion

2024-05-31

Completion

2026-05-31

Countries

• Switzerland

Study Locations