The objective of this study was 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. Twenty-five subjects with a whiplash-associated disorder still having symptoms or disability six weeks after injury received 6-10 sessions of physiotherapy for six weeks with focus on either motor control or endurance and strength of neck muscles. 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. The changes associated with motor control training and endurance/ strength training of neck muscles were similar for reduced disability, pain and for improving physical perf