Concurrent Treatment for Patients With Cervical Radiculopathy

University of Indianapolis

Status: Unknown

Conditions: Spinal Nerve Root Disorder Nos

Treatments: Other: active exercise program; Other: manual therapy to cervical and thoracic spine; Other: concurrent traction and neuromobilization technique; Other: sequential traction and neuromobilization technique

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03636009

0924

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study evaluates the effectiveness of two treatment interventions in patients with cervical radiculopathy. One group will receive a concurrent approach using traction and neuromobilizations. The other group will receive the sequential approach of traction and neuromobilizations

Full description

Physical therapists routinely use cervical traction and manual therapy in patients with cervical radiculopathy. The standard of care is a sequential approach in which the patients receive interventions successively. This study will provide the standard of care approach for one group while the other group receives the concurrent approach in which the patient will have neuromobilizations while they are receiving mechanical traction. Both groups will also receive exercise and manual therapy to the cervical and thoracic spine.

Enrollment: 40 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Participants that test positive on at least 3 out of 4 special tests.
• Participants will score at least 10 on the Neck Disability Index
• Participants will score at least 2 on the numeric pain rating scale

Exclusion criteria

• Do not test positive on at least 3 of 4 special tests.
• Signs of cervical trauma
• Cervical myelopathy
• Active pregnancy
• Medical red flags (fracture, tumor, long term steroid use, rheumatoid arthritis, and osteoporosis)
• Evidence of vascular compromise
• Cervical spine surgery
• Recent injections in the past six weeks

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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40 participants in 2 patient groups

Concurrent traction

Experimental group

Description:

Concurrent traction and neuromobilization technique at each scheduled session Active exercise program (4-5 exercises) at each session Manual therapy to cervical and thoracic spine at each session

Treatment:

Other: concurrent traction and neuromobilization technique

Other: manual therapy to cervical and thoracic spine

Other: active exercise program

Sequential traction

Active Comparator group

Description:

Sequential traction and neuromobilization technique at each scheduled session Active exercise program (4-5 exercises) at each session Manual therapy to cervical and thoracic spine at each session

Treatment:

Other: sequential traction and neuromobilization technique

Other: manual therapy to cervical and thoracic spine

Other: active exercise program