• Tove Ask, Liv I Strand, and Jan Sture Skouen.
• Outpatient Spine Clinic, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Department of Physiotherapy, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway. tove.ask@helse-bergen.no
• Clin Rehabil. 2009 Sep 1;23(9):812-23.

ObjectiveTo compare the effect of exercise regimes with focus on either motor control training or endurance/strength training for patients with whiplash-associated disorders in subacute phase.DesignRandomized controlled trial.SettingAn outpatient spine clinic in Norway.ParticipantsTwenty-five subjects with a whiplash-associated disorder still having symptoms or disability six weeks after injury.InterventionsThe participants received 6-10 sessions of physiotherapy for six weeks with focus on either motor control or endurance and strength of neck muscles.MeasurementsThe primary outcome measure was the Neck Disability Index. Secondary outcome measures were pain intensity, neck functioning and sick leave.ResultsNo statistical significant differences concerning primary and secondary outcome measures were demonstrated between the groups. Approximately half of the participants in both groups obtained a clinically important change (improvement) on perceived disability assessed by Neck Disability Index at six weeks and one-year follow-up. The changes within both groups were statistically significant at six weeks, but not at one-year follow-up. For most pain-related variables clinical significant improvement was demonstrated in both groups at six weeks, but for fewer participants at one year. There was also statistical significant improvement within groups in some of the physical performance tests at one-year follow-up.ConclusionThe changes associated with motor control training and endurance/ strength training of neck muscles were similar for reduced disability, pain and for improving physical performance. With a low number of participants and no control group, however, we cannot be sure whether the improvements are due to interventions or other reasons.

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