Article

OBJECTIVE: To 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. DESIGN: Randomized controlled
trial. SETTING: An outpatient spine clinic in Norway. PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-five
subjects with a whiplash-associated disorder still having symptoms or disability
six weeks after injury.Interventions: The participants received 6-10 sessions of
physiotherapy for six weeks with focus on either motor control or endurance and
strength of neck muscles. MEASUREMENTS: The primary outcome measure was the Neck
Disability Index. Secondary outcome measures were pain intensity, neck
functioning and sick leave. RESULTS: No 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. CONCLUSION: The 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.

Langue : ANGLAIS