Generalised muscular hyperalgesia in chronic whiplash syndrome

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Abstract
The whiplash syndrome has immense socio-economic impact. Despite extensive studies over the past years, the mechanisms involved in maintaining the pain in chronic whiplash patients are poorly understood. The aim of the present experimental study was to examine the muscular sensibility in areas within and outside the region involved in the whiplash trauma. Eleven chronic whiplash patients and 11 sex and age matched control subjects were included in the study. Before the experiment, the whiplash patients had pain in the neck and shoulder region with radiating pain to the arm. Five patients reported pain that was more widespread. The somatosensory sensibility in the areas over the infraspinatus, brachioradial, and anterior tibial muscles was assessed by pressure stimulation, pin-prick stimulation, and cotton swap stimulation. Infusion of hypertonic saline (5.85%, 0.5 ml) into the infraspinatus and anterior tibial muscles was performed to assess the muscular sensibility and referred pain pattern. The saline-induced muscle pain intensity was assessed on a continuous visual analogue scale (VAS). The distribution of pain was drawn on an anatomical map. The pressure pain thresholds were significantly lower in patients (PP