Victims of motor vehicle accidents often seek health care following whiplash injuries. Their complaints (whiplash associated disorders, WAD) are classified on a 1–4 scale developed by the Quebec task force (QTF) in 1995¹. A number of victims will not recover, developing chronic symptoms instead². The pathophysiology of the complaints following a whiplash injury is largely unknown. Several different treatments are currently employed by health professionals to treat victims of whiplash injuries in the acute and chronic phase of the disorder.

Responding to the acute symptoms with activity (act-as-usual and exercise) results in improved outcome³. There is evidence that sick-leave may be reduced by high-dose methylprednisolone given within 8 hours of injury in patients with QTF grade 3 WAD³.

Approximately 50 % of patients with chronic WAD suffer from zygapophyseal joint pain that will be relieved for a period of several months if treated with percutaneous radiofrequency neurotomy³. Moderate evidence supports multimodal rehabilitation programs for increasing levels of function³ and coordination exercise to reduce pain in chronic WAD³.

State-of-the-art treatment for acute WAD is available and needs to be implemented.

Further research on the treatment of chronic WAD should focus on the patients’ cognitions and movement behavior.