Evaluation of head-to-trunk control in whiplash patients using digital CranioCorpoGraphy during a stepping test

We used digital-CranioCorpoGraphy (dCCG) to document whiplash effects on head-on-trunk stabilization while subjects walked on the spot (Fukuda test). Twenty-five healthy subjects were compared with 33 whiplash patients. Whiplash patients were classified as chronic (more than 6 months after injury) and recent (less than 6 months after injury). Clear differences between healthy subjects and patients were seen and three different strategies were detected. Pattern A appeared similar to normals but quantitative analysis showed significant differences with paradoxical head over-stabilization (collar-effect); pattern B decreased head stability; pattern C decreased head stabilization with reduced displacements of the body. Due to the complexity of the data analyzed for each marker, a coefficient of performance (CP) was calculated to simplify the cut-off between normal and pathological tests. CP clearly identified an abnormal stepping pattern. Our findings indicate that firstly dCCG identified a specific vestibular task in whiplash patients, secondly whiplash did not always provoke vestibular involvement and thirdly dCCG could be a tool to discriminate patients with and without vestibular involvement after whiplash.