Eye stabilization reflexes in traumatic and non-traumatic chronic neck pain patients.
Many chronic neck pain patients experience problems with vision. These problems are possibly induced by deviations of the eye stabilization reflexes. It is not known whether these eye reflex alterations occur both in traumatic and non-traumatic neck pain patients.



To investigate if the cervico-ocular reflex (COR) and the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) are changed in tertiary care patients with prolonged, chronic neck pain with various origin of complaints.



Cross sectional study.



Ninety-one chronic neck pain patients were subdivided into three groups by origin of complaints, and compared with healthy controls. COR and VOR gains were measured with an infrared eye tracking device with the subject sitting on a rotating chair in a darkened room and with the head fixed.



Neck pain patients had a higher COR gain (median 0.41, IQR 0.289) compared with healthy controls (median 0.231, IQR 0.179). The mean COR gain did not differ between the three patient groups (Whiplash Associated Disorders 0.444 (SD 0.221); traumatic 0.397 (SD0.205); non-traumatic 0.468 (SD0.236)). There was no difference in VOR gain between the groups.



Chronic neck pain patients, who already received primary care, still have an elevated cervico-ocular reflex. The origin of complaints did not seem to be associated with this deviant oculomotor behavior.
Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus MC, P.O. Box 2040, 3000 CA, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Spine and Joint Centre, Noordsingel 113, 3035 EM, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. Electronic address: b.ischebeck@erasmusmc.nl.
Britta K
BK
Ischebeck
Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus MC, P.O. Box 2040, 3000 CA, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Physical Therapy, Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences, Rochussenstraat 198, 3015 EK, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Jurryt
J
de Vries
Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus MC, P.O. Box 2040, 3000 CA, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Malou
M
Janssen
Spine and Joint Centre, Noordsingel 113, 3035 EM, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Jan Paul
JP
van Wingerden
Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus MC, P.O. Box 2040, 3000 CA, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Gert-Jan
GJ
Kleinrensink
Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus MC, P.O. Box 2040, 3000 CA, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Jos N
JN
van der Geest
Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus MC, P.O. Box 2040, 3000 CA, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Erasmus University College, Rotterdam, P.O. Box 1738, 3000 BR, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Maarten A
MA
Frens
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000628:therapy*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005403:Fixation, Ocular / Q000502:physiology*; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy*; D012027:Reflex, Vestibulo-Ocular / Q000502:physiology*; D014911:Whiplash Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology*
Cervico-ocular reflex; Chronic neck pain patients; Vestibulo-ocular reflex; Whiplash associated disorders