OBJECTIVE: To determine, whether 3-months of neck-specific exercises could benefit individuals with chronic whiplash-associated disorders (WAD) who were on a waiting list for treatment. DESIGN: A prospective, randomized controlled study SETTING: Primary health care PARTICIPANTS: 41 individuals (31 women, 10 men; mean age 38 y, SD 11.2) with chronic (6 to 36 months) WAD, grades 2 and 3, were analyzed. INTERVENTIONS: Patients were randomized to neck-specific exercises (NSE) or no treatment for 3 months. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Neck-specific disability (Neck Disability Index; NDI), neck pain (visual analogue scale), general pain-related disability (Pain Disability Index; PDI), self-perceived performance ability (the Self-Efficacy Scale; SES), and health-related quality of life (EuroQol five dimensions; EQ-5D) were measured. RESULTS: NSE significantly improved the NDI, SES, and EQ5D compared to waiting list (< 0.01). There was significant improvement (p < 0.0001) over time in all outcomes for NSE, and, apart from the PDI, significant worsening (p = 0.002 to 0.0002) over time for the untreated group. CONCLUSIONS: NSE were more beneficial than no intervention while on a waiting list for individuals with chronic WAD.

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