Abstract

Purpose. To evaluate the effect of neural mobilization with or without mechanical intermittent traction on neck and arm pain, as well as functional disability in patients with unilateral cervical radiculopathy. Materials and methods. Thirty patients suffering from unilateral cervical radiculopathy were randomly assigned into two equal groups. Group (A) received only neural mobilization for 4 weeks (n = 15), while group (B) received neural mobilization plus mechanical intermittent traction for 4 weeks (n = 15). All patients in both groups were evaluated pre- and post-treatment with visual analogue scale (VAS) to assess neck and arm pain intensities, and neck disability index to assess functional disability. Results. Comparing both groups post-treatment showed that there was a_statistically significant reduction in neck and arm pain intensities, as well as functional disability (p < 0.05) in favor of group (B). Conclusions. Neural mobilization plus mechanical intermittent traction yield greater reduction in neck and arm pain intensities, as well as functional disability than neural mobilization alone in cervical radiculopathy patients.

Key words:

cervical radiculopathy, neural mobilization, intermittent cervical traction, neck pain, arm pain, functional disability