"COMPARATIVE EFFICACY OF CERVICAL TRACTION AND PHYSIOTHERAPY EXERCISES IN CERVICAL DISC BULGE: A RANDOMIZED CLINICAL TRIAL FROM A REHABILITATION PERSPECTIVE"

Abstract

Objective: This randomized controlled trial investigates the comparative effectiveness of cervical traction versus physiotherapy exercises in reducing pain and disability in individuals diagnosed with cervical disc bulge. Study Design: The study was conducted over three months at the Health & Wellness Physio Rehab Center, Swabi. Participants were randomly allocated into two groups. Group A received mechanical cervical traction with conventional therapy, while Group B received targeted physiotherapy exercises with conventional therapy. Methodology: Forty-eight patients aged 35 and above, diagnosed through MRI with cervical disc bulge, were selected using simple random sampling. A self-structured demographic questionnaire, the Neck Disability Index (NDI), and the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) were used as outcome measures. Data were analyzed using SPSS 25.0. The intervention lasted three weeks with five sessions per week. Results: Both groups showed statistically significant improvement in pain and functional scores post-intervention (p < 0.05). Group A demonstrated a significantly higher reduction in NDI (from 32.4 ± 4.2 to 14.6 ± 3.1) and NPRS (from 7.8 ± 1.1 to 2.9 ± 0.9) compared to Group B’s NDI (from 33.1 ± 3.9 to 20.3 ± 4.5) and NPRS (from 7.6 ± 1.3 to 4.1 ± 1.4). Conclusion: Mechanical cervical traction combined with conventional therapy provides superior short-term relief in pain and disability than physiotherapy exercises alone. This supports the clinical use of cervical traction as an effective early intervention for cervical disc bulge.