Abstract

Objective: To compare the short term effectiveness of intermittent cervical manual traction with sustained cervical manual traction in patients suffering neck pain due to cervical spondylosis.
Methodology: This interventional study was performed at rehabilitation clinics in Sargodha, Pakistan from June to December 2019 and included 30 patients. Patients were randomly allocated into two groups. Group 1, had manual intermittent cervical traction and Group 2, had sustained cervical traction. Intervention was short term (one session only). Pre-Interventional measurement and post intervention measurements were taken on Visual Analogue Scale (VAS).
Results: Out of 30 patients, 16 (53.3%) were male and 14 (46.7%) females. Mean age was 31.33±7.42 years. Out of 30 patients, 27 (90%) had acute neck pain and 3 (10%) had chronic pain. Independent t test was used to compare the mean score between the groups. Intermittent manual traction was more effective when compared with sustain manual traction.
Conclusion: Intermittent manual traction was more effective when compared with sustain manual traction. Howover, both interventions had significant effects to reduce the pain.

Key words: Cervical spondylosis, manual traction, intermittent cervical traction, sustained cervical traction.