Objective:

To evaluate the effects of an internet-based neck-specific exercise program compared to traditional physiotherapy on psychological outcomes related to chronic whiplash-associated disorders.

Key Findings:

• No significant group differences or group×time interactions for psychological outcomes, indicating similar effectiveness.
• Significant main effects of time for cognitive-behavioral factors and emotional distress in both groups.
• Psychological factors did not moderate treatment effects on neck-specific disability.
• Improvements in cognitive-behavioral factors and emotional distress occurred over time in both groups.

Interpretation:

The internet-based exercise program is as effective as traditional physiotherapy in improving psychological outcomes in chronic WAD, regardless of baseline psychological characteristics, suggesting its viability in clinical settings.

Limitations:

• The study may not account for all psychological factors influencing outcomes, which could limit the understanding of treatment effects.
• The sample size may limit the generalizability of findings, particularly in diverse populations.

Conclusion:

Both internet-based and traditional physiotherapy approaches are effective for improving psychological outcomes in chronic WAD, suggesting that internet-based formats could be a viable option for treatment, especially in resource-limited settings.