The effect of cervical traction on stabilometric parameters in cervical radiculopathy patients: A randomized crossover study.

BACKGROUND

Cervical traction is effective on pain and function in patients with cervical radiculopathy but its effectiveness on balance disorders has not yet been studied.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effect of mechanical intermittent cervical traction (MICT) on stabilometric parameters in patients with cervical radiculopathy.

METHODS

This randomized crossover study assigned 20 patients with cervical radiculopathy to one of the two groups: Group effective traction (ET)/sham traction (ST) (n= 10) treated firstly with ET (traction force of 12 Kg) then with ST (traction force of 2 Kg) with one-week interval and group ST/ET (n= 10) treated invertedly with a ST then ET. Each traction procedure was maintained for 10 minutes twice separated by 5 minutes of rest. Patients were assessed before and immediately after MICT procedure. Main outcome measures were stabilometric parameters: center of pressure, sway area and lateral and anteroposterior displacements using a force platform. Secondary outcome measures were pain intensity, grip strength and dizziness.

RESULTS

ET has provided a significantly greater improvement in both groups and in the total population in terms of stabilometric parameters (p< 0.01), pain intensity, and grip strength (p< 0.05), compared to ST.

CONCLUSION

MICT seems to have an immediate beneficial effect on stabilometric parameters, pain and grip strength in patients with cervical radiculopathy.