OBJECTIVE: To analyze the effects on pain and disability recovery after a whiplash of a guided neck-specific exercise therapy, compared to a different or an unguided neck-specific exercise therapy. DESIGN: A literature search was conducted from inception to May 31, 2023, in three electronic databases: PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Web of Science. Eleven randomized controlled trials were included. Meta-analyses were performed with Review Manager software. The standardized mean difference with a 95% confidence interval was used to measure the effect sizes and only short-term time points were considered. RESULTS: Not all studies reported a significant decrease of pain and disability in the neck-specific exercise group compared to controls. However, meta-analyses demonstrated a significantly greater decrease in neck pain (standardized mean difference -0.25, 95% CI -0.38 to -0.12, p = 0.0002) and neck-disability index (standardized mean difference -0.35, 95% CI -0.54 to -0.15, p = 0.0005) in the neck-specific exercise group. CONCLUSIONS: In addition to the benefits that a guided neck-specific exercise therapy has on motivation and program adherence, it provides greater benefits in pain and disability than a different or unguided neck-specific exercise therapy. Positive results are observed primarily with intervention periods of more than 6 weeks and at least two sessions per week.

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