Network analyses reveal the interaction between physical features, fear of movement and neck pain and disability in people with acute and chronic whiplash‐associated disorders

Background and Objective: A network analysis can be used to quantitatively assess and graphically describe multiple interactions. This study applied network analyses to determine the interaction between physical and pain‐related factors and fear of movement in people with whiplash‐associated disorders (WAD) during periods of acute and chronic pain. Methods: Physical measurements, including pressure pain‐thresholds (PPT) over neural structures, cervical range of motion, neck flexor and extensor endurance and the cranio‐cervical flexion test (CCFT), in addition to subjective reports including the Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia (TSK‐11), Neck Disability Index (NDI) and neck pain and headache intensity, were assessed at baseline in 47 participants with acute WAD. TSK‐11, NDI and pain intensity were assessed for the same participants 6 months later (n = 45). Two network analyses were conducted to estimate the associations between features at baseline and at 6 months and their centrality indices. Results: Both network analyses revealed that the greatest weight indices were found for NDI and CCFT at baseline and for neck pain and headache intensity and NDI and TSK‐11 at both time points. Associations were also found betweeen cervical muscle endurance and neck pain intensity in the acute phase. Cervical muscle endurance assesssed during the acute phase was also associated with NDI after 6 months ‐ whereas PPT measured at baseline was associsated with headache intensity after 6 months. Conclusion: The strongest associations were found for headache and neck pain intensity and neck disability and fear of movement, both during acute pain and when mesured 6 months later. The extent of neck endurance and measures of PPT at baseline may be associated with neck disability and headache, respectively, 6 months after a whiplash injury. Significance: Through two network analyses, we evaluated the interaction between pain‐related factors, fear of movement, neck disability and physical factors in people who had experienced a whiplash injury. We demonstrated that physical factors may be involved in the maintenance and development of chronic pain after a whiplash injury. Nevertheless, the strongest associations were found for headache and neck pain intensity and neck disability and fear of movement, both during acute and chronic phases.