A STUDY TO COMPARE MECHANICAL TRACTION VERSUS MOBILIZATION OF CERVICAL SPINE IN REDUCING PAIN AND DISABILITY IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC NECK PAIN

*Vutla Dali Srija, K. Eswar Reddy and Christie Kiran Gotru

ABSTRACT

Background & Purpose: Neck pain is common musculoskeletal disorder in modern society that can produce severe pain. Neck pain is defined as pain and stiffness on posterior aspect of the cervical spine. Neck pain symptoms are longer than 6months in chronic stages and in acute stage its below 3 months. In Chronic Neck Pain, conservative management such as stretching, ultrasound, Interferential therapy, Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation are said to be effective. However, there are no studies in literature on Mechanical traction and Mobilization techniques for chronic neck pain. The purpose of the study is to compare Mechanical traction versus Mobilization of cervical spine in reducing pain and disability in patients with chronic neck pain. Methodology: A total number of 40 subjects who fulfilled the inclusion criteria were recruited in the study through simple random sampling method. The subjects were divided into Two groups of 20 each. Group A received Mechanical traction and Group B received Mobilization for 6 weeks and after 6 weeks the outcome was measured (a) pain by using Visual analogue scale (VAS) and (b) functional disability was measured using Neck disability Index (NDI). Result: Both the groups showed improvement after 6 weeks of intervention. But in Group A with Mechanical traction showed a higher statistical significance with a value of (p<0.0001) while compared to Group B Mobilization. Conclusion: Based on above results Group A with Mechanical traction showed greater improvements in reducing pain and disability scores when compared to Group B Mobilization.

Keywords: Chronic Neck Pain, Mulligan Mobilization, Mechanical Traction, Moist heat therapy, Sustained natural epiphyseal glides and Natural epiphyseal glides.