The following is a single case study presented at the Sports Medicine Australian conference in Queensland in March 2001.
Neuromagnetic Treatment Following Whiplash in an Equestrian Sportsman
ABSTRACT: A 31year old registered Nurse who competes actively in equestrian dressage is involved in a severe car accident 2 years ago suffering severe whiplash symptoms with severe sympathetic changes to left upper limb. The patient was seen by various pain specialists and received treatment, the last being 6 months previous. The pain was described as severe constant pain of cervical spine and upper limb that was only relieved by IV pain medication and wearing a glove helped the sympathetic signs. The behaviour of pain was important in determining the affected spinal levels. The treatment of this patient was the use of the neuromagnetic devices, Quadrapolar magnets in conjunction with gentle muscular home stretches. The patient presented the next day with no left arm pain, not needing to wear glove for the day and left hand skin colour improved, no headaches and had slept well not waking. On review one and two months later symptoms were continuing to subside and improve, he has returned to equestrian dressage competition.
Authors: Dianne Hermans B.Phty Patricia Westwood BSc,GdipPhty,MAppSc(Phty)
“Whiplash is an accelerationdeceleration mechanism of energy transfer to the neck… The impact may result in bony or softtissue injuries (whiplash injury), which inturn may lead to a variety of clinical manifestations (Whiplash-Associated Disorders)” (Spitzer, 1995)
SYMPTOMS ON ASSESSMENT •
Constant, severe debilitating pain of the cervical spine and left arm. Night pain waking the sportsman a couple of times each night and taking up to half an hour to return to sleep. •
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Intermittent severe headache.
Restricted active and passive range of left cervical rotation accompanied by exacerbation of symptoms into the left arm.
SYMPTOMS ON ASSESSMENT • •
Abnormal cervical posture with excessive extension of the upper cervical spine. Extreme feelings of hot and cold waves as well as band-like constrictions in the left upper arm.
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Hair loss on the dorsum of the left hand.
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Pain, pins and needles and numbness into the left hand.
SYMPTOMS ON ASSESSMENT •
Pallor of left hand skin.
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Claw-like posture of the left hand
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Abnormal sensation of heat and cold in the hand.
Functional Assessment
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Limited in function in that the sportsman was unable to work in his profession as a registered nurse and unable to participate in the equestrian activities of riding or training horses.
Q Magnet is Composed of: • Four rare earth magnets (Rated 13,500 gauss each)
• Magnetic flux ring • Casing
Magnetic Flux Generator
• Alternating quadrapolar array • Specific magnetic field gradient
Magnet vs QMagnet • Steep gradient • Pain relief component • Proven physiological response • Not dependant on size or strength
Blockade of Action Potentials
2’ 20’’
3’ 20’’
3’ 20’’
McLean et al., Environmental Medicine 8:36-44 (1991)
Magnet vs QMagnet • Flat Gradient • Minimal physiological response McLean et al., Bioelectromagnetics 16:2032 (1995)
Clinical Evidence of Pain-relieving Efficacy of the QMagnet • Double-blind, PBO-controlled, crossover: • Mechanical low back and knee pain (Holcomb et al., 1991) • Mechanical low back pain (Holcomb et al., in preparation) • Wrist pain in a knitwear factory (Holcomb et al., data undergoing re-ananlysis) • Open-Label: • Rheumatoid arthritis of the knee (Segal et al.,J. Clin. Rheumatol. 5:302-305 1999) • Radiculopathy (Holcomb et al., submitted) • Static Magnetic Field Therapy for pain in the abdomen and genitals (PediatrNeurol2000Sep,23(3):261-4
Contraindications • • • • • • • • •
pacemakers defibrillators aneurysm clips dorsal column stimulators infusion pumps transdermal patches insulin pumps pregnant women or any magnetically programmable device
AFTER 24 HOURS OF QMagnet TREATMENT
•
Decreased pain in the cervical area. The left arm was pain free. There was an absence of night pain, such that the sportsman did not awake through the night.
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Clearance of the feelings of band-like constrictions in the upper left arm.
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More normal posture of the left hand.
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More normal colour of left hand skin.
AFTER ONE MONTH OF QMagnet TREATMENT • Decrease in left hand pain symptoms. • Decrease in the frequency and severity of headaches. • Less exacerbation of symptoms into left arm with active and passive range of left cervical rotation
AFTER 2 MONTHS OF QMAGNET TREATMENT Functional Assessment • Limited in function in that the sportsman was unable to work in his profession as a registered nurse.
• ABLE to participate in the equestrian
activities of training horses and dressage.
AFTER SIX MONTHS OF QMAGNET TREATMENT Residual symptoms from initial assessment
• Abnormal cervical posture with excessive extension of the upper cervical spine.
• Hair loss on the dorsum of the left hand.
AFTER SIX MONTHS OF QMAGNET TREATMENT Functional Assessment
•
Increase in function in that the sportsman is able to work in his profession as a registered nurse for 20 hours per week.
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Participates in the equestrian activities of competition dressage as well as training three horses in hack and dressage.
CONCLUSION This single case example illustrates that the symptoms following whiplash can be successfully treated and decreased symptoms with QMagnet devices placed in the appropriate areas of the cervical and thoracic spinal segments. Functional improvement can be facilitated if severe pain and sympathetic symptoms can be alleviated, thus allowing a more normal lifestyle for the sportsman who suffers from whiplash.
Assisting Clinicians • Dr Anne Crick BSc(Anat)B.App.Sc. (Chiro) • Katie Miller RN