The aim of this research is to find and compare the effect of conventional physical therapy and ELDOA stretching exercise on pain, range of motion and disability in patients with cervical disc protrusion. The Randomized controlled trials done at Armed Forces Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine, Rawalpindi. The sample size was 20. The subjects were divided in two groups, 10 subjects in conventional physical therapy group and 10 in ELDOA stretching exercise group. Study duration was of 6 months. Sampling technique applied was Convenient Sampling technique randomization in group through Lottery method (sealed envelope). Only 30-60 years individuals with cervical disc protrusion were included. Tools used in the study were measurement of ROM by bubble inclinometer, Numeric pain rating scale (NPRS) and neck disability index (NDI). Data was analyzed using SPSS 21.

Cervical disc protrusion is a significant cause of neck and arm pain and disability in majority of individuals. It causes a great burden on physical, social and emotional quality of life of patients. The cervical disc protrusion is characterized by prolapsed nuclear material through the annulus into the spinal canal. The local mechanical or chemical irritation of neural structures typically leads to symptoms of radiculopathy, head and neck pain or myelopathy. The disc protrusion may be postero-central to compress the dura matter, causing multi segmental pain and affect the scapular area. It can also be postero-lateral causing the root signs, which have dermatomal behavior and affect the upper limb in specific pattern. Postero-central protrusion can also shift to postero-lateral with symptoms shifting from centralization to radiculopathy.

Symptomatic disc protrusions can occur at any age but have different clinical features depending on the age group. In young adults nucleus pulposus can involve which is rare in old age. Diagnoses can be established on clinical findings along with patient's history, the functional examination and MRI. Disc protrusion can occur in postero-central, lateral and Postero- lateral directions.

Movement of the disc posteriorly causes stress on the posterior longitudinal ligament and also on the anterior part of the Dura mater. As a result of this the pain travels in more than one segment with dural reference. This typical postero central protrusion causes the pain symptoms centrally and bilaterally. Postero lateral disc protrusion may irritate the nerve root, which causes a Segmental or root pain and paraesthesia. The goal of treatment in disc protrusion problems is to stop the conflict between the displaced disc material and affecting sensitive structure. Protruded disc fragment may affect the Dura matter, nerve roots and intervertebral joints.

ELDOA is a series of stretching exercises and body movements that uses the Centre of gravity and localizes a target area of the spine that need to be mobilized or re aligned by placing and maintaining tension on the fascia. In ELDOA improvement in the tone of the intrinsic muscles of the spine combined with reinforcing the extrinsic muscles related to the spine in the neck. The stretching of the interlinking Para spinal muscles and finally inter independent movement of "Junghans functional unit" is facilitated and it is emphasized that micro movement affects macro function. The basic working principle during an ELDOA stretching consists of creating a position that will target a specific segment i.e. the functional unit. The inferior segment is fixed while the superior segment is mobilized. The position is created in such to place all the inferior and superior myofascial chains under tension. The effects of ELDOA include decompression of the superior and inferior facet joints, allowing for more space, joint play, and the range of motion.

Except ELDOA the other different treatment methods for intervertebral disc protrusion includes the application of physical modalities, mechanical traction, specific physical therapeutic exercise, oral anti-inflammatory medication, and patient education. Disc decompression therapy, surgery, minimally invasive Oxygen- Ozone therapy that exploits the biochemical properties of a gas mixture of Oxygen and Ozone and administration of periganglionic injection of corticosteroid and an anesthetic agent.

Physiotherapy treatment protocol for cervical disc protrusion includes cervical traction, neural mobilization and cervical spine strengthening exercises to relieve stress on the muscles. ELDOA stretching exercise is a systematic technique that causes decompression of the superior and inferior facets of the involved segment, allowing for more space, joint play, and the range of motion. This study hypothesize that there is a difference between the effects of conventional physical therapy treatment and ELDOA stretching exercise for the disc protrusion. The objective of this study is to find the effects of ELDOA stretching technique and to compare it with conventional physical therapy treatment in patients with cervical disc protrusion.

Literature review A systematic and evidence based search of relevant literature was performed by utilizing PubMed and Google Scholar as search engines.

Search term for the initial literature review was disc protrusion, prevalence of neck pain, causes of neck pain, pathophysiology of disc protrusion, treatment options for disc protrusion, effects of ELDOA in disc protrusion. The search was limited to papers in English preferably published since 2000 with full text available. Different studies were available regarding cervical manipulation and its effects but limited data was available regarding the effects of ELDOA on cervical disc protrusion in recent years.

In 2016,The prevalence of playing related injuries in collegiate violinists and the physical, emotional, and mental effects of ELDOA. Conducted an exploratory study to investigate the effects of ELDOA on the perceived pain in collegiate violinists at Jacob School of Music Indiana University. The study findings were overall decrease in pain and some study participants indicated the physical, emotional, and mental benefits after doing ELDOA exercises such as improve body posture, increase flexibility, mobility, and range of motion. Participants also noticed a change in mental behavior as decrease in stress, anxiety, improved sleep patterns and some participants did not observed as much emotional or mental benefits as others.

Quasi experimental short time study on Fascia Stretching Improve the Pain and Functional Level in Disc Protrusion Patients: JRCRS; 2016. The study participants were administered ELDOA exercises with conservative physical therapy treatment in both cervical and lumbar disc protrusions. The result of this study showed that ELDOA has significant result to decrease pain and improved functional status of the subjects. The pre and post-treatment frequency and intensity of pain showed significant differences.

In a study on incidence of intervertebral disc protrusion disclosed by postmortem radiography and myelography, 60 % of patients over the age of 30 years have multiple anterior and lateral disc protrusion of witch 40% were posterior disc protrusions.

Inclusion Criteria:

• MRI with grading of disc protrusion
• Radiculopathy
• Limited ROM (measured by bubble Inclinometer)
• Pain more than 3 on NPRS

Exclusion Criteria:

• Malignancy,
• Infection,
• Trauma,
• Bone deformities,
• Severe osteoporosis
• With marked bony and soft tissue disease
• Taking other treatment in the same period of the research