title: Effects of Neck-Specific Exercises Compared to Waiting List for Individuals With Chronic Whiplash-Associated Disorders: A Prospective, Randomized Controlled Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether 3 months of neck-specific exercises (NSEs) could benefit individuals with chronic whiplash-associated disorder (WAD) who were on a waiting list (WL) for treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective, randomized controlled study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Primary health care.
  
  
  METHODS
  Individuals (N=41; 31 women, 10 men; mean age ± SD, 38±11.2y) with chronic (6-36mo) WAD, grades 2 and 3, were analyzed.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients were randomly assigned to NSEs or no treatment for 3 months.
  
  
  METHODS
  Neck-specific disability (Neck Disability Index [NDI]), neck pain (visual analog scale), general pain-related disability (Pain Disability Index [PDI]), self-perceived performance ability (Self-Efficacy Scale [SES]), and health-related quality of life (EuroQol 5 dimensions [EQ-5D]) were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  NSEs significantly improved the NDI, SES, and EQ-5D compared with WL (P<.01). There was significant improvement (P<.0001) over time in all outcomes for NSEs, and apart from the PDI, significant worsening (P=.002-.0002) over time for the untreated group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  NSEs were more beneficial than no intervention while on a WL for individuals with chronic WAD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Health Sciences, Division of Physiotherapy, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden. Electronic address: Anneli.Peolsson@liu.se.
authors.forename: Anneli
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Peolsson
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Health Sciences, Division of Physiotherapy, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden; Rehab Väst, County Council of Östergötland, Motala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Landén Ludvigsson
authors.affiliation: Previa Occupational Health Care AB, Gävle, Sweden.
authors.forename: Ann-Marie
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Tigerfors
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Health Sciences, Division of Physiotherapy, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden; Centre for Clinical Research Sörmland, Uppsala University, Eskilstuna, Sweden.
authors.forename: Gunnel
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Peterson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D020377:Self Efficacy; D064232:Visual Analog Scale; D014850:Waiting Lists; D014911:Whiplash Injuries / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Exercise; Randomized controlled trial; Rehabilitation; Whiplash injuries