Neck Exercises, Training and Pain Management as a Treatment for Whiplash Patients With Chronic Neck Pain (WADNECXT)

Neck Exercises, Training and Pain Management as a Treatment for Whiplash Patients With Chronic Neck Pain

Neck Exercises, Physical and Cognitive Behavioural Graded Activity as a Treatment for Adult Whiplash Patients With Chronic Neck Pain

The purpose of this study is to test whether a physiotherapy intervention containing pain management, general training and specific neck exercises can improve function for patients with chronic neck pain.

Neck pain is widespread problem. The prevalence of neck pain in the Scandinavian countries is 36%. Of the working population the prevalence of chronic neck pain is 10 - 20%.The National Board of Health estimates that 5-6000 subjects per year in Denmark are involved in a traffic accident evoking whiplash-induced chronic neck pain. The main problems for patients with chronic neck pain are cervical dysfunction, reduced neck mobility and stability in addition to local and possibly generalised pain Besides chronic neck pain, patients may suffer from poor pain coping strategies and physical inactivity which influences physical function, general health and causes a poor quality of life. Physical training including specific exercises targeting the deep postural muscles of the spine is effective in reducing neck pain for patients with chronic neck pain. Physical behavioural graded activity is a treatment approach with focus on increasing general physical fitness, reducing fear of movements and increasing psychological function. Educational sessions, where the focus is on understanding complex chronic pain mechanisms and development of appropriate pain coping and/or cognitive behavioural strategies have shown reduced general pain. Thus this project is formulated on the expectation that rehabilitation of patients with chronic neck pain after a whiplash accident must target cervical dysfunctions, training of physical function and the understanding and management of chronic pain in a combined therapy approach. The study is designed as a randomized control study including 200 patients. All participate in the educational sessions. The training group receives on top of that instruction in specific neck exercises and general training.

Chronic neck pain, Whiplash, Whiplash Associated Disorders, Chronic Pain, Neck exercises, Training, Pacing, Patient Education, Pain Management, Whiplash Injuries, Musculoskeletal

Education in pain management strategies and treatment sessions including instructions in neck exercises and aerobic training

Educational sessions in pain management 4 times and treatment sessions including instructions in training and specific exercises 8 times

Inclusion Criteria: chronic neck pain for at least 6 months reduced physical neck function (NDI minimum 10) pain primarily in the neck region, finished any medical /radiological examinations able to read and understand Danish and able to participate in the exercise program. Exclusion Criteria: radiculopathies upper extremity neurological deficits in a process of examining for unknown pathology, experimental medical treatment, being in a unstable social situation pregnancy fractures suffering from depression other known coexisting medical conditions which would severely restrict participation in the exercise program

University of Southern Denmark, Research Unit for Musculoskeletal Function and Physiotherapy, Institute of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics

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Ris I, Sogaard K, Gram B, Agerbo K, Boyle E, Juul-Kristensen B. Does a combination of physical training, specific exercises and pain education improve health-related quality of life in patients with chronic neck pain? A randomised control trial with a 4-month follow up. Man Ther. 2016 Dec;26:132-140. doi: 10.1016/j.math.2016.08.004. Epub 2016 Aug 20.

Hansen IR, Sogaard K, Christensen R, Thomsen B, Manniche C, Juul-Kristensen B. Neck exercises, physical and cognitive behavioural-graded activity as a treatment for adult whiplash patients with chronic neck pain: design of a randomised controlled trial. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2011 Dec 2;12:274. doi: 10.1186/1471-2474-12-274.