Clinical trial NCT03888573: Stretching Versus Traction in Patients With Cervical Radiculopathy.
Official title: Which is Better to Decompress the Nerve Roots in Cervical Radiculopathy: Stretching or Traction From Foraminal Opening Position
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: UNKNOWN
Phase: NA
Conditions: Cervical Radiculopathy
Keywords: Stretching, Traction Decompression
Lead sponsor: Cairo University
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2019-03-25
Enrollment: 30
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 20
Maximum age (years): 50
Standard ages: ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: no
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Intervention model description: Patients will be randomly assigned into two groups; A and B. Patients within Group (A) will receive stretching protocols to the cervical musculature at the side of symptoms. Group (B) will be treated with traction from 15-degree flexion, 30-degree lateral bending, and 15-degree rotation toward the painful side.
Primary purpose: TREATMENT

Brief summary: The purpose of the study is to compare the effects of traction decompression and neck muscle stretching on the magnitude of Flexor Carpi Radialis H-Reflex(HR), Neck Disability Index (NDI), and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) pain scores in patients with cervical radiculopathy.

Detailed description: Cervical traction has long been used to relieve compression of nerve roots caused by intervertebral discs. Yet, there is lack of knowledge that compares the effect of traction decompression with neck muscles stretching in patients with cervical radiculopathy

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* Patients should have C5-C6 and C6-C7 paramedian disc protrusion manifested by unilateral symptoms in C6-C7 roots dermatome and myotomes of the upper extremities.
* They were diagnosed as cervical disc protrusion (C5- C7) for at least three months.
* All patients should have a second grade of disc bulge (2-3mm) which was detected from T2 axial view of MRI.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Patients will be excluded from the study if they have upper cervical spine disc pathology, cord compression and upper motor neuron symptoms, curvature abnormalities of the neck including reversed curve (kyphotic) and deformities, cervical rib syndrome, double crush syndrome, diabetic neuropathy, text neck , short neck (Churchill neck), Marked facet joint, neuro-central joint arthropathic pathology, osteoporosis.

Primary outcomes:
measure: The Flexor Carpi radialis H-reflex
timeFrame: change from Baseline after 6-week of treament
Secondary outcomes:
measure: The Visual Analogue Scale Pain Scores(VAS)
timeFrame: Change from Baseline after 6-week of treament
measure: The Neck Disability Index (NDI)
timeFrame: Change from Baseline after 6-week of treatment
Other outcomes:
Locations:
Study officials:
affiliation: Professor of Physical Therapy for Neurology, Department of Physical Therapy for Neuromuscular Disorder and its Surgery, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University.
name: Samiha Hafez Hassan, Prof.
role: STUDY_CHAIR
affiliation: Professor and Head of Department of Biomechanics, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, Egypt.
name: Salam Mohamed Elhafez, Prof.
role: STUDY_DIRECTOR
References:
citation: Caridi JM, Pumberger M, Hughes AP. Cervical radiculopathy: a review. HSS J. 2011 Oct;7(3):265-72. doi: 10.1007/s11420-011-9218-z. Epub 2011 Sep 9.
citation: Graham N, Gross A, Goldsmith CH, Klaber Moffett J, Haines T, Burnie SJ, Peloso PM. Mechanical traction for neck pain with or without radiculopathy. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2008 Jul 16;(3):CD006408. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD006408.pub2.