Management of Neck Pain and Associated Disorders: A Clinical Practice Guideline from the Ontario Protocol for Traffic Injury Management (OPTIMa) Collaboration
30+ Expert Collaborators
SOURCE
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26984876/
REFERENCE
36
NICE
REFERENCE
123
organisation
European Spine Journal
TITLE
Management of Neck Pain and Associated Disorders: A Clinical Practice Guideline from the Ontario Protocol for Traffic Injury Management (OPTIMa) Collaboration
30+ Expert Collaborators
SOURCE
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26984876/
DISC COMMENTARY
This major clinical practice guideline, developed by over 30 collaborators through the OPTIMa Collaboration and published in the European Spine Journal, sets out how to assess and manage neck pain and related disorders, including whiplash-type injuries, in adults with symptoms lasting less than six months.
What was studied?
The guideline reviewed evidence across mild, moderate and severe neck pain lasting under six months, covering education, exercise, manipulation, mobilisation, massage, yoga, laser therapy, and treatments like cervical collars and traction, to identify which approaches are supported.
What did they find?
For recent, mild-to-moderate neck pain it suggests structured education with exercise, or exercise combined with manipulation or mobilisation. Persistent pain options include supervised exercise, massage, yoga or laser therapy. It specifically flags cervical collars, electroacupuncture, relaxation massage and traction as lacking evidence of benefit.
Why it matters
This provides a clear, evidence-graded roadmap for neck pain and whiplash-type injuries, including honest guidance on what does not help, such as collars or traction, which matters as much as knowing what does.
Why we included it
It models a staged approach: reassurance and education first, combined exercise and manual therapy for milder problems, and a wider range of options for persistent pain, while ruling out treatments the evidence does not support.
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What was studied?
The guideline reviewed evidence across mild, moderate and severe neck pain lasting under six months, covering education, exercise, manipulation, mobilisation, massage, yoga, laser therapy, and treatments like cervical collars and traction, to identify which approaches are supported.
What did they find?
For recent, mild-to-moderate neck pain it suggests structured education with exercise, or exercise combined with manipulation or mobilisation. Persistent pain options include supervised exercise, massage, yoga or laser therapy. It specifically flags cervical collars, electroacupuncture, relaxation massage and traction as lacking evidence of benefit.
Why it matters
This provides a clear, evidence-graded roadmap for neck pain and whiplash-type injuries, including honest guidance on what does not help, such as collars or traction, which matters as much as knowing what does.
Why we included it
It models a staged approach: reassurance and education first, combined exercise and manual therapy for milder problems, and a wider range of options for persistent pain, while ruling out treatments the evidence does not support.