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Shi-style cervical manipulations for cervical radiculopathy: A multicenter randomized-controlled clinical trial
Xue-Jun Cui1, Min Yao, Xiu-Lan Ye
1Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai First Teaching Hospital, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin Rehabilitation Hospital, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Hospital of traditional Chinese Medicine, Urumqi First Affiliated Hospital, Henan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, China.
Background:
There is a lack of high-quality evidence supporting the use of manipulation therapy for patients with cervical radiculopathy (CR). This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of Shi-style cervical manipulations (SCMs) versus mechanical cervical traction (MCT) for CR.
Methods:
This was a randomized, open-label, controlled trial carried out at 5 hospitals in patients with CR for at least 2 weeks and neck pain. The patients received 6 treatments of SCM (n = 179) or MCT (n = 180) over 2 weeks. The primary outcome was participant-rated disability (neck disability index), measured 2 weeks after randomization. The secondary outcomes were participant-rated pain (visual analog scale) and health-related quality of life (36-Item Short Form Health Survey [SF-36]). Assessments were performed before, during, and after (2, 4, 12, and 24 weeks) intervention.
Results:
After 2 weeks of treatment, the SCM group showed a greater improvement in participant-rated disability compared with the control group (P = .018). The SCM group reported less disability compared with the control group (P < .001) during the 26-week follow-up. The difference was particularly important at 6 months (mean -28.91 ± 16.43, P < .001). Significant improvements in SF-36 were noted in both groups after 2 weeks of treatment, but there were no differences between the 2 groups.
Conclusion:
SCM could be a better option than MCT for the treatment of CR-related pain and disability.
