Effect of Cervical Traction on Balance in Cervical Radiculopathy Patients

University of Monastir

Status: Completed

Conditions: Vertigo; Cervical Radiculopathy

Treatments: Device: Cervical Traction Device

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT04598113

CTB

Details and patient eligibility

About

A cross-over randomized trial aiming to assess the immediate effect of cervical traction on balance disorders among patients with common cervical neuropathy. Authors hypothesized that as cervical traction alleviate radicular pain it may also improve patient balance disorders. Effective traction is compared to sham traction.

Main outcome measures are balance parameters (force platform).

Full description

A cross-over randomized trial was designed to assess the immediate effect of cervical intermittent traction on balance disorders among patients diagnosed with common cervical neuropathy. The diagnosis is confirmed or made by a physical medicine and rehabilitation physician with 15 Y of experience treating musculoskeletal disorders especially cervical neuropathy. Enrolled patients are randomly assigned to one of two arms (1 or 2). Patients in arm 1 (Effective Traction/Sham Traction) are treated firstly with effective traction than one week later with sham traction. Patients in arm 2 (Sham Traction/Effective Traction) are treated firstly with sham traction than one week later with effective traction. At baseline the epidemiological parameters, the pain intensity (VAS), the grip strength, the functional status (NDI), the psychological distress (HAD), the Brief Best Test and the balance parameters (force platform) are assessed. The pain intensity, the grip strength and the balance parameters are assessed before and immediately after cervical traction for comparison.

Enrollment: 20 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 50 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Unilateral cervical radiculopathy of greater than three months

Exclusion criteria

• History of surgery or bone-ligament damage to the cervical spine
• Neurological and/or rheumatic diseases involving the cervical spine or which may result in impaired balance
• Inner ear and vestibular pathology
• Worsening of pain or intolerance in the manual cervical traction test

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Crossover Assignment

Masking: Triple Blind

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20 participants in 2 patient groups

Effective Traction/Sham Traction

Active Comparator group

Description:

Group of patients treated firstly with Effective Traction then with Sham Traction

Treatment:

Device: Cervical Traction Device

Sham Traction/Effective Traction

Sham Comparator group

Description:

Group of patients treated firstly with Sham Traction then with Effective Traction

Treatment:

Device: Cervical Traction Device