Effects of Cervical Extension Traction With & Without Modified Cervical and Shoulder Retraction Exercises in Neck Pain

Riphah International University

Status: Unknown

Conditions: Neck Pain

Treatments: Other: Modified Cervical and Shoulder Retraction exercises; Other: Cervical Extension Traction exercises

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT05391997

REC/RCR & AHS/22/0117

Details and patient eligibility

About

The study aims to explore whether the modified cervical and shoulder retraction exercise program restores cervical sagittal alignment and reduces neck pain in patients with non-specific neck pain.

Full description

Neck pain is a musculoskeletal system disorder that causes social and economic loss by reducing the quality of life (QOL) of the individual, and its prevalence varies from 16.7 to 75.1% in the adult population. Non-specific neck pain (NNP) is a symptom related to a postural or mechanical cause. NNP is also associated with loss of cervical curvature. In healthy spines, the axial load along the cervical spine is supported along the ventral column of the spine. However, in spines with the loss of lordosis, the load moves more anteriorly, which causes neck pain. Cervical exercise has been shown to be an effective treatment for neck pain and cervical alignment, but there is still a need for more clinical trials evaluating the effectiveness of the exercise approach. It seems reasonable to assume that naturally good neck muscle strength and range of motion are likely to be protective factors against neck pain.

As per previous research, the effects of exercise therapy on non-specific neck pain have been examined but there is limited literature available for use of cervical and shoulder retraction exercises in patients with nonspecific neck pain. Most of the studies have been done with neck isometrics, manual mobilization, and deep cervical flexors training and there is less scope of practicing cervical extension traction in contrast with modified cervical and shoulder retraction exercises. Previous research is limited by no use of a control group in a modified retraction exercise regime. To fill this literature gap this study is proposed which will focus on the clinical significance of modified cervical and shoulder retraction exercises on pain, disability, and Cobb's angle in the management of non-specific neck pain.

Enrollment: 22 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 25 to 50 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Neck pain history
• Patients with Lateral Cervical Radiograph
• Patients who agreed for a follow up of 6 weeks

Exclusion criteria

• Congenital abnormalities e.g. torticollis
• Past surgical history of cervical spine
• Positive VBI sign
• Patients with inflammatory or rheumatic diseases
• Already undergoing physiotherapy treatment

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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22 participants in 2 patient groups

Modified Cervical and Shoulder Retraction exercises

Experimental group

Description:

Cervical extension traction protocol will be added as standard treatment. Then, patients either sit or stand in an upright position while pushing their chin backward and simultaneously raising their head within the pain-free range, then, in a seated or standing position, patients will maintain an upright posture and try to pull back their shoulders and extend their neck within the pain-free range.

Treatment:

Other: Modified Cervical and Shoulder Retraction exercises

Cervical Extension Traction exercises

Active Comparator group

Description:

Here, patients will receive Cervical Extension Traction exercises as standard treatment. Cervical extension traction includes a protocol in which traction will be applied within the extension range of the cervical region in full spine position.

Treatment:

Other: Cervical Extension Traction exercises