Effectiveness of Cervical Mobilization and Cervical Traction in Management of Non Specific Neck Pain

Background: Neck pain is described as the pain perceived anywhere between superior nucal line & first thoracic vertebrae. About 60% of the subjects are likely to develop the chronic nature of neck pain if it’s not managed promptly. Objective: This study was designed to determine the effectiveness of manual therapy in comparison with cervical traction in reducing cervical pain and disability. Methodology: This study is randomized clinical trial in which 38 patients with the non-specific neck pain aged between 35 to 55 years were selected using a non-probability sampling technique from Hope Rehabilitation Centre Lahore. Selected subjects were randomly allocated into two treatment groups with 19 subjects in Cervical Mobilization (Group A) and 19 in Cervical Traction (Group B) using a lottery method. Short wave diathermy& isometric neck exercises were given as standard treatment for both groups. Pretreatment values for pain and disability were recorded on VAS and NDI. Each patient received two treatment sessions per week with maximum six treatment sessions over the period of three weeks. Post treatment values for possible improvement in pain and disability measured on VAS and NDI respectively were recorded at the end of 3rd week. Results: It was revealed that there was significant difference in VAS and NDI score (p value < 0.05) between the baseline readings and final value at the end of Week 3(after 06 treatment sessions) across both treatment groups. However cervical mobilization proved to be an effective technique in terms of greater reduction in mean VAS (3.83±0.336 compared to 1.706±0.268 in cervical traction group) and NDI (4.056±0.468 compared to 2.647±0.402 compared to cervical traction). Conclusion: Cervical mobilization is more effective than cervical traction, both in terms of reducing pain and disability in subjects with non-specific neck pain.