Rotation-traction Manipulation of Different Treatment Frequency in Cervical Radiculopathy

Summary

The evidence for different frequencies of rotation-traction manipulation treatment in cervical radiculopathy is insufficient. This study determined whether 3 sessions per week of rotation-traction manipulation treatment are superior to 1 session per week for symptomatic outcomes in cervical radiculopathy based on a multicenter randomized controlled trial.

Conditions

• Cervical Radiculopathy

Interventions

OTHER

High-frequency rotation-traction manipulation

The procedure for rotation-traction manipulation is as follows: The patient is seated, and their neck is allowed to relax. The physician applies massage techniques to relax the muscles around the neck area for approximately 5 to 10 minutes. The patient is then instructed to rotate their head horizontally, flex it, and then rotate it again to its maximum limit while maintaining a sense of fixation. The physician supports the patient's chin with their elbow and gently pulls upward for 3 to 5 seconds. The patient is then asked to fully relax, and the physician applies a quick, short upward traction with the elbow, which may result in audible sounds. Subsequently, massage techniques are applied to further relax the muscles around the neck and shoulders, with each session lasting approximately 10 to 15 minutes. In the high-frequency manipulation group, patients will undergo rotation-traction manipulation three times weekly. A total of 12 treatments for four weeks.

OTHER

Low-frequency rotation-traction manipulation

The procedure for rotation-traction manipulation is as follows: The patient is seated, and their neck is allowed to relax. The physician applies massage techniques to relax the muscles around the neck area for approximately 5 to 10 minutes. The patient is then instructed to rotate their head horizontally, flex it, and then rotate it again to its maximum limit while maintaining a sense of fixation. The physician supports the patient's chin with their elbow and gently pulls upward for 3 to 5 seconds. The patient is then asked to fully relax, and the physician applies a quick, short upward traction with the elbow, which may result in audible sounds. Subsequently, massage techniques are applied to further relax the muscles around the neck and shoulders, with each session lasting approximately 10 to 15 minutes. In the low-frequency manipulation group, patients will undergo rotation-traction manipulation once time weekly. A total of 4 treatments for four weeks.

OTHER

Cervical traction

The procedure for cervical traction is as follows: The patient assumes a sitting position, and a cervical traction device with a chin strap is applied. The patient is instructed to slightly flex their head forward, approximately 10-15 degrees, based on their comfort level and symptom relief. Traction force starts at 3 kg and increases gradually in increments of 0.5 kg, with a maximum weight not exceeding 6 kg. The cervical traction group will be subjected to cervical traction three times a week. A total of 12 treatments for four weeks.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine

  collaborator OTHER

• Affiliated Hospital of Changchun University of Chinese Medicine

  collaborator OTHER

• Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing

  collaborator OTHER

• Wangjing Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences

  lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

40 Years

Max Age

65 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2024-04-01

Primary Completion

2025-04-30

Completion

2025-06-30

Countries

• China

Study Locations