title: Smooth Pursuit Eye Movement Deficits in Patients With Whiplash and Neck Pain are Modulated by Target Predictability.
abstract: METHODS
  This is a cross-sectional study.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study is to support and extend previous observations on oculomotor disturbances in patients with neck pain and whiplash-associated disorders (WADs) by systematically investigating the effect of static neck torsion on smooth pursuit in response to both predictably and unpredictably moving targets using video-oculography.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Previous studies showed that in patients with neck complaints, for instance due to WAD, extreme static neck torsion deteriorates smooth pursuit eye movements in response to predictably moving targets compared with healthy controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eye movements in response to a smoothly moving target were recorded with video-oculography in a heterogeneous group of 55 patients with neck pain (including 11 patients with WAD) and 20 healthy controls. Smooth pursuit performance was determined while the trunk was fixed in 7 static rotations relative to the head (from 45° to the left to 45° to right), using both predictably and unpredictably moving stimuli.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients had reduced smooth pursuit gains and smooth pursuit gain decreased due to neck torsion. Healthy controls showed higher gains for predictably moving targets compared with unpredictably moving targets, whereas patients with neck pain had similar gains in response to both types of target movements. In 11 patients with WAD, increased neck torsion decreased smooth pursuit performance, but only for predictably moving targets.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Smooth pursuit of patients with neck pain is affected. The previously reported WAD-specific decline in smooth pursuit due to increased neck torsion seems to be modulated by the predictability of the movement of the target. The observed oculomotor disturbances in patients with WAD are therefore unlikely to be induced by impaired neck proprioception alone.
  
  
  METHODS
  3.
authors.affiliation: *Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands †Spine and Joint Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands ‡Department of Manual Therapy, Hogeschool Rotterdam, The Netherlands §Erasmus University College, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Malou
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Janssen
authors.forename: Britta K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Ischebeck
authors.forename: Jurryt
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: de Vries
authors.forename: Gert-Jan
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Kleinrensink
authors.forename: Maarten A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Frens
authors.forename: Jos N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: van der Geest
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005133:Eye Movements / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D009333:Neck / Q000503:physiopathology; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011698:Pursuit, Smooth / Q000502:physiology*; D014911:Whiplash Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology*