Conclusion and Clinical Implications
whiplash injuries, chronic WAD grades II, pain, chronic pain, disability, whiplash-associated disorder
ADVERSE EVENTS, CHRONIC PAIN
Both the NSEIT and NSE groups demonstrated sustained clinically important changes in disability and pain for approximately 50% of participants. The results showed that NSEIT was not worse than NSE and could be used as a treatment in patients with chronic WAD grades II and III. The results add to previous studies, offering a new way to deliver an NSE program, with important reductions in visits to health care facilities and important symptom reductions for patients with chronic pain and disability after whiplash injuries. No severe adverse events were reported in this study, but participants in both groups experienced mainly temporary (<2 weeks) side effects. The results indicate the importance of knowledge of self-regulating exercises for patients and the importance of physiotherapists having knowledge of how to individualize the progression of exercises. The physiotherapists need to be aware of increased symptoms and slower exercise progression in some individuals with chronic WAD.We would like to thank all participants with whiplash-associated disorder, physiotherapists in primary care, the test leader, and the research staff. The funder had no role in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. The study was founded by Sweden’s Innovation Agency, the Swedish Research Council, the Centre for Clinical Research Sörmland at Uppsala University, the Regional Research Council Mid Sweden, the Medical Research Council of Southeast Sweden, the county council of Östergötland, Sweden, and Linköping University, SwedenConflicts of Interest: None declared.Information about the neck-specific exercise program.The neck-specific exercise program, including exercises to find the deep neck muscles and progression.Per protocol analyses, within-group differences, self-rated recovery, and adverse events.CONSORT-eHEALTH checklist (V 1.6.1).