Physical therapy and active exercises – An adequate treatment for prevention of late whiplash syndrome?

Timon Vassiliou, Gert Kaluza, Caroline Putzke, Hinnerk Wulf and Michael Schnabel

The aim of this study was to compare the effect of a physical therapy regimen including active exercises with the current standard treatment of immobilisation with a soft collar on reduction of pain 6 weeks and 6 months after whiplash injury caused by motor vehicle collision.  During the first week, there was no significant difference in mean pain intensity between the standard treatment group and the physical therapy group. However, after 6 weeks, mean pain intensity was significantly  lower in the physical therapy group.  The authors concluded that a physical therapy regimen which includes active exercises is superior in reducing pain 6 weeks and 6 months after whiplash injury compared to the current standard treatment with a soft collar.

Pain, Volume 124, Issues 1-2, September 2006, Pages 69-76

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