Role of Nerve Mobilizations in Decreasing Pain and Disability Among Patients With Cervical Radiculopathy
Condition: Cervical Radiculopathy
MeSH terms: Radiculopathy
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      Objective of the study is to find out the effectiveness of nerve mobilization in patients
      with cervical radiculopathy. It is a single blinded randomized controlled trial using
      non-probability convenient sampling. Data is collected from University Physical therapy and
      Rehabilitation Clinic, University of Lahore, Pakistan.

      Alternate hypothesis: There is a significant role of nerve mobilizations in decreasing pain
      and disability among patients with cervical radiculopathy.

      Null hypothesis: There is no significant role of nerve mobilizations in decreasing pain and
      disability among patients with cervical radiculopathy.

      .
    

Detailed description: 
      It will be a prospectively registered, parallel designed, randomized controlled trial with
      concealed allocation, conducted in University Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Clinic,
      Lahore, Pakistan. Patients who met the eligibility criteria will be informed about the aim of
      the study. All eligible participants who will agree to participate in the study signed the
      consent form. Eligibility of the participants will be determined by the two members of the
      research team before the randomization. After baseline assessment, eligible patients will be
      randomly assigned (in a 1:1 ratio) into two groups (Group A and Group B). Randomization will
      be done by one of the research team members using fish bowl method. Randomization assignments
      will be kept in opaque, sealed envelopes and unsealed by the researchers after baseline
      testing. Outcome assessor will be masked to group allocation and patients will be instructed
      not to talk about the content of their exercise program during the post intervention visit
      and could contact their therapists in case of any problems during trial participation. Help
      of female physiotherapist will be taken for the female patients. The sample size was
      calculated as 76 participants (38 per group), allowing statistical power of 80%, an alpha
      level of 5% and attrition rate of 20% having mean difference of 1.1 and SD of 1.48 and 1.63.
    

Intervention name(s): Nerve mobilization; Conventional physical therapy
Intervention type(s): Other; Other
Intervention description(s): Moist pack all over cervical spine for 10 minutes. TENS for 10 minutes at frequency of 60 Hz with 2 electrodes. Cervical traction for 10 minutes with 7 sec hold and 5 sec rest time. Cervical isometric exercises with 7 sec hold and 30 repetitions in each direction twice a day.
Median, ulnar and radial nerve stretch with 3 sets of 10 repetitions , with 3 sec hold at final stretched position.
Following nerve mobilizations are used in experimental group/group A:
Median Nerve: Glenohumeral abduction, wrist extension, supination, glenohumeral lateral rotation, elbow extension, neck lateral bending to opposite side. Radial Nerve: Glenohumeral depression, elbow extension, whole arm internal rotation, wrist flexion Ulnar Nerve: Wrist extension, forearm pronation elbow flexion, glenohumeral lateral rotation, glenohumeral depression, shoulder abduction each with 3 sets of 10 repetitions , with 3 sec hold at final stretched position.; Moist pack for 10 minutes. TENS for 10 minutes at frequency of 60 Hz with 2 electrodes. Cervical traction for 10 minutes with 7 sec hold and 5 sec rest time. Cervical isometric exercises with 7 sec hold and 30 repetitions in each direction twice a day.
Other intervention name(s): Routine physical therapy
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single (Outcomes Assessor)
Primary purpose: Treatment
Keywords: cervical radiculopathy; neuromobilization; pain; disability