The Treatment of Neck Pain-Associated Disorders and Whiplash-Associated Disorders: A Clinical Practice Guideline.
The objective was to develop a clinical practice guideline on the management of neck pain-associated disorders (NADs) and whiplash-associated disorders (WADs). This guideline replaces 2 prior chiropractic guidelines on NADs and WADs.



Pertinent systematic reviews on 6 topic areas (education, multimodal care, exercise, work disability, manual therapy, passive modalities) were assessed using A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews (AMSTAR) and data extracted from admissible randomized controlled trials. We incorporated risk of bias scores in the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation. Evidence profiles were used to summarize judgments of the evidence quality, detail relative and absolute effects, and link recommendations to the supporting evidence. The guideline panel considered the balance of desirable and undesirable consequences. Consensus was achieved using a modified Delphi. The guideline was peer reviewed by a 10-member multidisciplinary (medical and chiropractic) external committee.



For recent-onset (0-3 months) neck pain, we suggest offering multimodal care; manipulation or mobilization; range-of-motion home exercise, or multimodal manual therapy (for grades I-II NAD); supervised graded strengthening exercise (grade III NAD); and multimodal care (grade III WAD). For persistent (>3 months) neck pain, we suggest offering multimodal care or stress self-management; manipulation with soft tissue therapy; high-dose massage; supervised group exercise; supervised yoga; supervised strengthening exercises or home exercises (grades I-II NAD); multimodal care or practitioner's advice (grades I-III NAD); and supervised exercise with advice or advice alone (grades I-II WAD). For workers with persistent neck and shoulder pain, evidence supports mixed supervised and unsupervised high-intensity strength training or advice alone (grades I-III NAD).



A multimodal approach including manual therapy, self-management advice, and exercise is an effective treatment strategy for both recent-onset and persistent neck pain.
School of Physical and Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada; Département Chiropratique, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, QC, Canada. Electronic address: Andre.bussieres@mcgill.ca.
André E
AE
Bussières
St Anne's Rd Chiropractic, Winnipeg, MB, Canada; Faculty of Science, University of Winnipeg, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.
Gregory
G
Stewart
School of Physical and Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
Fadi
F
Al-Zoubi
Department of Clinical Education, Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Philip
P
Decina
Département des Sciences de l'Activité Physique, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, QC, Canada.
Martin
M
Descarreaux
Department of Community Health & Epidemiology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada.
Jill
J
Hayden
Faculty of Health and Community Studies, Mount Royal University, Calgary, AB, Canada.
Brenda
B
Hendrickson
University Health Network, Toronto Western Research Institute, University of Toronto, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Cesar
C
Hincapié
Département d'Anatomie, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, QC, Canada.
Isabelle
I
Pagé
Faculty of Kinesiology & Recreation Management, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.
Steven
S
Passmore
Human Health and Nutritional Science, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada.
John
J
Srbely
Department of Clinical Education, Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Maja
M
Stupar
Downsview Chiropractic, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Joel
J
Weisberg
Health Systems Management, Rush University, Chicago, IL.
Joseph
J
Ornelas
D006801:Humans; D026882:Manipulation, Chiropractic; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000628:therapy*; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D014911:Whiplash Injuries / Q000628:therapy*
Chiropractic; Disease Management; Musculoskeletal Disorders; Neck Pain; Practice Guideline; Therapeutic Intervention; Whiplash Injuries