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.