Simultaneous Traction and Neural Mobilization

Neck pain is a frequently reported complaint of the musculoskeletal system which generally has a huge impact on health care expenditure; ascribed to visits to health care providers, disability, and sick leaves. A variety of manual therapy techniques including Cervical traction (CT) and neural mobilization techniques (NMTs) have been prescribed in the management of CR because of their immediate analgesic effect. Both techniques have been proposed to reduce pain and functional limitations in CR. Traction increases the separation of the vertebral bodies which eventually reduces the central pressure in the disk space and encourages the disk nucleus to get back to a central position. The current literature lends assistance to the utilization of the traction in addition to other physical therapy procedures for pain reduction, with less significant impact on function and disability. Further studies should investigate to explore the most effective traction method and dosage, the subgroups of patients with CR, or the pain stage (acute, subacute, or chronic) most benefited by this intervention and the physical therapy procedures that yield the most effective outcomes when combined with traction.

Researchers have started exploring that neural tissue mobilization along with conventional treatment is more effective in decreasing pain and improving cervical range of motion and mental component of quality of life in unilateral cervical radiculopathy (CR) patients than intermittent cervical traction and conventional treatment. Future randomized controlled trials are warranted with the purpose to compare the long-term effectiveness of cervical traction with neural mobilization in CR, as well as the effect of these two techniques in comparison with other interventions. Some literature recommended the simultaneous application of mechanical cervical traction along with neural mobilization in the treatment of Unilateral Cervical Radiculopathy. There are numerous studies in which both groups received Cervical traction (CT) and neural mobilization (NM) was added in only one group along with cervical traction or studies in which both groups received NM and CT was administered in only one group as well, there are also some studies in which one group received only CT and other group received only NM but there isn't any study yet in which we can compare the effect of simultaneous administration of CT and NM and consecutive administration of CT and NM. Pain and functional limitation in cervical radiculopathy can be treated with mechanical cervical traction and neural mobilization. The purpose of the study is to determine that is simultaneous administration of cervical traction and neural mobilization is more effective than consecutive administration in the management of cervical radiculopathy. The findings of the study will provide an insight into the low-cost evidence-based conservative management of cervical radiculopathy.