Women with late whiplash syndrome have greatly reduced load-bearing of the cervical spine. In-vivo biomechanical, cross-sectional, lateral radiographic study.

To access publisher's full text version of this article click on the hyperlink belowNo study has been conducted to ascertain whether the load-bearing capacity of the cervical spine is reduced in vivo in late whiplash syndrome (LWS).To compare the segmental cervical angular values across C0-C6, between two conditions: without versus with external axial load upon the head in three groups of women.A single-blind, age-Body Mass Index (BMI) matched, radiographic, cross-sectional study.Radiographic Department at a University Hospital.One hundred eighty-two women, aged between 18-50 years were enrolled.Participants were divided into 3 groups: a group with LWS (N.=62) and two control groups: a chronic insidious neck pain (IONP) group (N.=60) and an asymptomatic group (N.=60). Prior to and on the same day as the radiographic examination took place, BMI in kg/m2 was recorded and all participants answered the Neck Disability Index (NDI). The two symptomatic groups answered also three other pain and disability questionnaires.Analysis of variance (mixed-model ANOVA) for repeated measures was used for comparison. Significant differences between groups, and the two conditions tested was revealed, but only within the asymptomatic and the IONP groups (P