Effects of cervico-lumbar combination manual therapy in patients with cervical radiculopathy : A randomized controlled pilot trial

Abstract

Background

Cervical radiculopathy (CR) is an important public health issue worldwide. Manual therapy is a valid treatment option for CR.

Objective

The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of the cervico-lumbar combination manual therapy in patients with CR.

Methods

47 participants were recruited and randomly divided into Group A (n = 25) and Group B (n = 22) using random number table method. Group A received both cervical and lumbar mobilization, while Group B only received cervical mobilization. The experiment conducted 12 sessions over four weeks. Neck Disability Index (NDI), Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and cervical range of motion (ROM) were measured pre and post the experiment.

Results

There was no significant difference in baseline indicators between the two groups pre the experiment (P > . 05). Four weeks later, compared pre and post within the group, both groups showed improvement in NDI, VAS, and ROM (P < . 05), with Group A showing slightly higher improvement in various indicators than Group B; Compared between groups, Group B showed significant improvements in flexion [mean difference 2.47; 95% confidence interval: 0.20 to 4.74, t = 2.19, P = 0.033], extension [2.76; 0.94 to 4.57, t = 3.06, P = 0.004], left flexion [3.12; 1.45 to 4.80, t = 3.75, P < 0.00], right flexion [3.08; 1.43 to 4.74, t = 3.76, P < 0.00], while NDI, VAS, left rotation, and right rotation ROM did not show significant differences (P > . 05).

Conclusions

Cervico-lumbar combination mobilization therapy can improve flexion, extension, left and right flexion ROM in patients with CR, and the improvement in cervical dysfunction and pain were not superior to cervical mobilization alone. The cervico-lumbar combination therapy provides a new perspective for manual therapists and is expected to attract the attention of clinical practitioners. Further clinical studies are needed in the future to confirm the actual impact of combination manual therapy on the symptoms and signs of the CR population.