A randomized controlled trial on the efficacy of intermittent cervical traction for patients with chronic neck pain

摘要

Objective: To investigate the efficacy of intermittent cervical traction in the treatment of chronic neck pain over a 12-week follow-up.Design: A randomized controlled trial.Setting: Hospital-based outpatient practice.Subjects: Seventy-nine patients with chronic neck pain.Interventions: Subjects were randomly assigned to either experimental group (n=39, mean age=50.59.8) or control group (n=40, mean age=48.89.1). Experimental group received intermittent cervical traction and control group received infrared irradiation alone; twice a week over a period of six weeks.Outcome measurements: The values of Chinese version of the Northwick Park Neck Pain Questionnaire (NPQ), verbal numerical pain scale (VNPS), and cervical active range of motion (AROM) were measured at baseline, six-week and 12-week follow-up.Results: No significant differences were found between the two groups in the NPQ (P>0.05), VNPS (P>0.05) and AROM (P>0.05).