Comparison of Sensorimotor Disturbance Between Subjects With Persistent Whiplash-Associated Disorder and Subjects With Vestibular Pathology Associated With Acoustic Neuroma

Treleaven J, LowChoy N, Darnell R, Panizza B, Brown-Rothwell D, Jull G. Comparison of sensorimotor disturbance between subjects with persistent whiplash-associated disorder and subjects with vestibular pathology associated with acoustic neuroma. Objective: To determine if differences exist in reported symptoms and in outcomes of sensorimotor tests (cervical joint position error [JPE], neck-influenced eye movement control, postural stability) between subjects with persistent whiplash and subjects with unilateral vestibular pathology associated with acoustic neuroma. Design: Repeated measures, case controlled. Setting: Tertiary institution and metropolitan hospital. Participants: Twenty subjects with persistent whiplash, 20 subjects with acoustic neuroma, and 20 control subjects. Interventions: Not applicable. Main Outcome Measures: Symptom descriptors, Dizziness Handicap Inventory (short form), measures of cervical JPE, the smooth pursuit neck torsion (SPNT) test, and forceplate measures of postural stability in comfortable and narrow stances. Results: The results showed differences in SPNT (P=.00), selected measures of postural stability (P<.04), and reported symptoms between the whiplash and vestibular groups. There was no between-group difference in cervical JPE (P>.27) or dizziness handicap (P>.69). Conclusions: This study showed differences in sensorimotor disturbances between subjects with discreet whiplash and those with vestibular pathology associated with acoustic neuroma. The results support the SPNT test as a test of cervical afferent dysfunction. Further research into cervical JPE as a discreet test of cervical afferentation is warranted.