Intramuscular fat is present in cervical multifidus but not soleus in patients with chronic whiplash associated disorders.

ABSTRACT: The presence of intramuscular fat (IMF) in the cervical spine muscles of patients with whiplash associated disorders (WAD) has been consistently found. The mechanisms underlying IMF are not clear but preliminary evidence implicates a relationship with stress system responses. We hypothesised that if systemic stress system responses do play a role then IMF would be present in muscles remote to the cervical spine. We aimed to investigate if IMF are present in muscle tissue remote (soleus) to the cervical spine in people with chronic WAD. A secondary aim was to investigate associations between IMF and posttraumatic stress symptom levels. Forty-three people with chronic WAD (25 female) and 16 asymptomatic control participants (11 female) participated. Measures of pain, disability and posttraum

SUBMITTER: Pedler A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5967697 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature