Cervical Radiculopathy
Conditions
Brief summary
This intervention study is to evaluate the efficacy of a combination of conservative treatments compared to isometric exercise on clinical outcomes in patients with cervical radiculopathy. It is a randomized, parallel, 2-arm superiority trial study. The study will be conducted at the District General Hospital in Trincomalee, where patients with cervical radiculopathy seek medical care. Patients who refer to the Department of Physical Medicine (DPM) from the Out Patients Department (OPD), orthopedic clinic and surgical clinic with a diagnosis of cervical radiculopathy or neck and arm pain (symptoms extending distal to the shoulder) will be eligible for recruitment. The study details will be explained to the subjects in the language that they best understand. Written informed consent will be obtained from the individuals who express their willingness to participate in the study, and they will sign the informed consent document accordingly.
Interventions
PROCEDURE1.Isometric exercise 2.combined conservative treatment
Exercise programs will be taught to patients with details by an experienced physiotherapist at the beginning of the study. Cervical Traction Patient will sit upright posture on a chair. Mechanical traction will be applied. It includes placement of a halo device around the neck, then the harness will be attached to the machine that applies traction force through-out the treatment, the device is controlled by the control panel. Intermittent mechanical traction will be applied for 10 minutes in which pull for 10 seconds and 5 seconds rest will be applied. Neural mobilization will be carried out using Butler's approach. The subject will be positioned in supine, and the median nerve will be mobilized using a slider.
Sponsors
University of Peradeniya
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE (Subject)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
35 Years to 60 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* 35-60 years * Neck pain \> 3 months * Clinical Prediction Rules - Positive Spurling's test (+) Distraction test (+) Upper limb tension test A (+) Cervical rotation on affected side \< 60
Exclusion criteria
Presence of any signs or symptoms of medical red flags * Less than 3(positive) items for the CPR * Bilateral arm radiating pain * Osteoporosis * Tumor * Whiplash injury * Pregnancy woman * Rheumatoid arthritis * Post-surgery to cervical/thoracic spine
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Difference in pain intensity measured by Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) between combination of treatments and isometric exercises at 6-weeks post-baseline. | 2 times a week for 6 weeks | Visual analog scale (VAS) is a measurement tool used in order to measure the pain Zero indicates no pain and 10 indicates maximum pain that patient feels |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Difference in cervical ROM measured by Goniometry between combination of treatments and isometric exercises at 6-weeks post-baseline. | 2 times a week for 6 weeks | Measured by using a goniometer |
| Difference in functional disability measured by Neck Disability Index between combination of treatments and isometric exercises at 6-weeks post-baseline | 2 times a week for 6 weeks | Neck disability index (NDI) will be used to measure the patient's level of disability |
Outcome results
None listed