Effect of SNAGS Mulligan Technique on Chronic Cervical Radiculopathy: A Randomized Clinical Trial, WADIDA H. EL-SAYED, AHMED F.E. MOHAMED, GHADA ABD EL-MONEM and HASSAN H. AHMED
Abstract
Background: Cervical radiculopathy is a disease of pain and/or sensorimotor deficits due to compression of a cervical nerve root and it can be a debilitating disease that is manifested with significant impairment.
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of sustained natural accessory apophyseal glides on dermatomal somatosensory evoked potential in chronic cervical radiculopathy patients.
Design: Randomized controlled clinical trial.
Material and Methods: Fifty patients of both genders with unilateral cervical radiculopathy at level of C5/C6 and/or C6/C7, in chronic stage, and BMI ranged from 25 to 30kg/m2. Their ages ranged from 40 to 55 years old were recruited from Abo-Queir Health Insurance Association Hospital North West Delta Branch. Patients were randomly distributed by flipping a coin into two groups; control group (A) received conventional physical therapy program and study group (B) received the same conventional physical therapy program in addition to sustained natural accessory apophyseal glides (mulligan technique). Each group received the program three sessions/week for four weeks. Patients were evaluated for their dermatomal somatosensory evoked potential (latency and amplitude) by computerized electromyography before and after treatment period (four weeks) of administration of program.
Results: 2 X 2 mixed design MANOVA revealed that there was significant decrease of dermatomal somatosensory evoked potential latency and increase amplitude in group B compared with group A (p<0.05).
Conclusion: Mulligan technique provides an additional effect in treatment of chronic cervical radiculopathy patients as it improves dermatomal somatosensory evoked potential than conventional physical therapy program alone.
Clinical Rehabilitation Impact: This finding may help physiotherapists in designing a more effective rehabilitation program for patients suffering from chronic cervical radicu-lopathy.