BACKGROUND: Whiplash associated disorders commonly affect people after a motor vehicle accident, causing a variety of disabling manifestations. Some manual and physical approaches have been proposed to improve myofascial function after traumatic injuries, in order to effectively reduce pain and functional limitation. AIM: To evaluate whether the application of the fascial manipulation technique could be more effective than a conventional approach to improve cervical range of motion in patients with subacute whiplash associated disorders. DESIGN: Pilot randomized clinical trial. METHODS: Eighteen patients with subacute whiplash associated disorders were randomized into two groups. Group A (n = 9) received three, 30-minute sessions (every five days during a two week period) of neck fascial manipulation. Group B (n = 9) received ten, 30-minute sessions (five days a week for two consecutive weeks) of neck exercises plus mobilization. Patients were evaluated before, immediately after and two weeks post-treatment. Primary outcome measures: cervical active range of motion (flexion, extension, right lateral-flexion, left lateral-flexion, right rotation, and left rotation). RESULTS: A statistically significant improvement in neck flexion was found after treatment in favour of group A (60.2 +/- 10.8 degrees) compared with group B (46.3 +/- 15.1 degrees). No differences were found between groups for the other primary outcomes at post-treatment or follow-up. CONCLUSION: The fascial manipulation technique may be a promising method to improve cervical range of motion in patients with subacute whiplash associated disorders.

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