Article

This study assessed the addition effect of mild traumatic brain injury
(MTBI) on the balance control of patients who simultaneously suffered a whiplash
associated disorder (WAD). BACKGROUND: Dizziness is common in patients suffering
from whiplash injury with or without a MTBI, but data is lacking about the
additional balance problems and dizziness caused by MTBI. METHODS: 44 patients
with WAD and MTBI and 36 WAD patients without MTBI participated in the study. A
dizziness handicap index (DHI) was used to quantify self-perceived handicap.
Balance control was assessed using measures of trunk sway for a battery of stance
and gait tests. RESULTS: Patients with WAD and MTBI perceived significantly
higher dizziness and unsteadiness (higher score in DHI Emotional category) and
had greater trunk sway than WAD patients without MTBI for stance tasks and
complex gait tasks (e.g. walking up and down stairs). Both groups had greater
sway than controls for these tasks. Both groups of patients showed equal
reductions in trunk sway with respect to controls for simple gait tasks (e.g.
walking while rotating the head). CONCLUSIONS: A similar pattern of balance
impairment was present in patients with whiplash injury with and without MTBI.
However, the impairment was greater for stance and complex gait tasks in WAD
patients with MTBI.
CI - Copyright (c) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS