A randomized controlled trial on the efficacy of intermittent cervical traction for patients with chronic neck pain.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To investigate the efficacy of intermittent cervical traction in the treatment of chronic neck pain over a 12-week follow-up.

DESIGN:

A randomized controlled trial.

SETTING:

Hospital-based outpatient practice.

SUBJECTS:

Seventy-nine patients with chronic neck pain.

INTERVENTIONS:

Subjects were randomly assigned to either experimental group (n = 39, mean age = 50.5 ± 9.8) or control group (n = 40, mean age = 48.8 ± 9.1). Experimental group received intermittent cervical traction and control group received infrared irradiation alone; twice a week over a period of six weeks.

OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS:

The values of Chinese version of the Northwick Park Neck Pain Questionnaire (NPQ), verbal numerical pain scale (VNPS), and cervical active range of motion (AROM) were measured at baseline, six-week and 12-week follow-up.

RESULTS:

No significant differences were found between the two groups in the NPQ (P > 0.05), VNPS (P > 0.05) and AROM (P > 0.05).

• Authors: Thomas T W Chiu, Joseph Kim-Fai Ng, Barbro Walther-Zhang, Rex J H Lin, Luc Ortelli, Siew Kuan Chua
• Journal: Clinical rehabilitation (Clin Rehabil) Vol. 25 Issue 9 Pg. 814-22 (Sep 2011) ISSN: 1477-0873 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 21427150 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• China
• Chronic Pain (therapy)
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Neck Pain (therapy)
• Pain Measurement (methods)
• Traction
• Treatment Outcome
• Young Adult