Stretching Versus Traction in Patients With Cervical Radiculopathy.

Not Applicable

• Conditions: Cervical Radiculopathy
• Interventions: Other: Stretching protocol

• Registration Number: NCT03888573
• Lead Sponsor: Cairo University

Brief Summary

The purpose of the study is to compare the effects of traction decompression and neck muscle stretching on the magnitude of Flexor Carpi Radialis H-Reflex(HR), Neck Disability Index (NDI), and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) pain scores in patients with cervical radiculopathy.

Detailed Description

Cervical traction has long been used to relieve compression of nerve roots caused by intervertebral discs. Yet, there is lack of knowledge that compares the effect of traction decompression with neck muscles stretching in patients with cervical radiculopathy

Study Timeline

• Status Verified: 2019-03
• Study First Submitted: 2019-03-20
• Study First Submitted QC: 2019-03-21
• Last Update Submitted: 2019-03-24
• Study First Posted: 2019-03-25
• Last Update Posted: 2019-03-26
• Study Start: 2019-04-01
• Primary Completion: 2019-08-01
• Study Completion: 2019-09-01

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: UNKNOWN
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 30

Inclusion Criteria

• Patients should have C5-C6 and C6-C7 paramedian disc protrusion manifested by unilateral symptoms in C6-C7 roots dermatome and myotomes of the upper extremities.
• They were diagnosed as cervical disc protrusion (C5- C7) for at least three months.
• All patients should have a second grade of disc bulge (2-3mm) which was detected from T2 axial view of MRI.

Exclusion Criteria

• Patients will be excluded from the study if they have upper cervical spine disc pathology, cord compression and upper motor neuron symptoms, curvature abnormalities of the neck including reversed curve (kyphotic) and deformities, cervical rib syndrome, double crush syndrome, diabetic neuropathy, text neck , short neck (Churchill neck), Marked facet joint, neuro-central joint arthropathic pathology, osteoporosis.

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Stretch	Stretching protocol	Patients within Stretch Group will receive stretching protocols to the cervical musculature at the side of symptoms.
Traction	Stretching protocol	Patients within Traction Group will be treated with traction from 15-degree flexion, 30-degree lateral bending, and 15-degree rotation toward the painful side.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
The Flexor Carpi radialis H-reflex	change from Baseline after 6-week of treament	The peak-to-peak amplitudes of the four FCR-HR traces will be measured and averaged for each patient

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
The Visual Analogue Scale Pain Scores(VAS)	Change from Baseline after 6-week of treament	A 10-cm VAS was used for assessing pain intensity. It is a line whose ends are labeled as the extremes of pain; no pain and very extreme pain. The line is marked at intervals 1 cm each without any label. Patients will be simply asked to indicate which point along the line that best represents the intensity of perceived pain. The distance from the "no pain" end to the mark made by the patient will be measured as the patient's pain intensity score.
The Neck Disability Index (NDI)	Change from Baseline after 6-week of treatment	The NDI will be measured on a 6-point scale from 0 (no disability) to 5 (full disability). The numeric response for each item will be summed for a score varying from 0 to 50. The NDI consists of 10 sections, each section the total possible score is 5, if the first statement is marked; the section score = 0, if the last statement is marked it = 5. The patients will choose the best choice that reflect his current state. If all ten sections are completed the score is calculated by dividing the obtained score on the total number of scores e.g. if the score recorded by the patients was (40) so the NDI=(40/50)x100=80%