ROLE OF NERVE MOBILIZATIONS IN DECREASING PAIN AND DISABILITY AMONG PATIENTS WITH CERVICAL RADICULOPATHY

Abstract

Background: Cervical radiculopathy is an emerging health problem in this modern era of computers and online education which can be a cause of disablement for individuals. Researches must be done on the treatment protocols to overcome the loss caused by cervical radiculopathy. Objective: To study the effects of conventional physical therapy with and without nerve mobilizations in patients with cervical radiculopathy. Methods: This was a prospectively registered, two-arm parallel design, randomized controlled trial with concealed allocation, a blinded assessor and intention to treat analysis. Seventy-six patients of any gender suffering with pain in cervical region for more than 4 months, having age between 20 and 45 years were recruited consecutively. All the participants must have positive upper limb neurodynamic test and positive spurling test. In group A, patients received nerve mobilizations along with conventional physical therapy while group B received only conventional physical therapy. Treatment was provided for 45 minutes up to 4 weeks with 4 sittings per week. Outcome measure used for pain intensity was Numeric Pain Rating. Upper extremity functional index and neck disability Index scale were used to assess upper extremity functional level and disability due to neck pain. Results: Mean between-group difference for the Numeric pain rating scale after 4 weeks of intervention was -1.03 (95% CI -1.51 to -0.56), which is not significant. The results of physical function and functional mobility showed significant between-group differences that were 16.78 (95% CI 14.59 to 18.97) and -14.09 (95% CI -18.51 to -9.68), respectively. Conclusion: Nerve mobilization is more effective in improving physical function and mobility among patients with cervical radiculopathy as compared to conventional physical therapy alone. However, for improving pain, nerve mobilizations are as effective as conventional physical therapy. Trial registration: NCT04896749