Role of Nerve Mobilizations in Decreasing Pain and Disability Among Patients With Cervical Radiculopathy

Role of Nerve Mobilizations in Decreasing Pain and Disability Among Patients With Cervical Radiculopathy: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Objective of the study is to find out the effectiveness of nerve mobilization in patients with cervical radiculopathy. It is a single blinded randomized controlled trial using non-probability convenient sampling. Data is collected from University Physical therapy and Rehabilitation Clinic, University of Lahore, Pakistan.

Alternate hypothesis: There is a significant role of nerve mobilizations in decreasing pain and disability among patients with cervical radiculopathy.

Null hypothesis: There is no significant role of nerve mobilizations in decreasing pain and disability among patients with cervical radiculopathy.

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It will be a prospectively registered, parallel designed, randomized controlled trial with concealed allocation, conducted in University Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Clinic, Lahore, Pakistan. Patients who met the eligibility criteria will be informed about the aim of the study. All eligible participants who will agree to participate in the study signed the consent form. Eligibility of the participants will be determined by the two members of the research team before the randomization. After baseline assessment, eligible patients will be randomly assigned (in a 1:1 ratio) into two groups (Group A and Group B). Randomization will be done by one of the research team members using fish bowl method. Randomization assignments will be kept in opaque, sealed envelopes and unsealed by the researchers after baseline testing. Outcome assessor will be masked to group allocation and patients will be instructed not to talk about the content of their exercise program during the post intervention visit and could contact their therapists in case of any problems during trial participation. Help of female physiotherapist will be taken for the female patients. The sample size was calculated as 76 participants (38 per group), allowing statistical power of 80%, an alpha level of 5% and attrition rate of 20% having mean difference of 1.1 and SD of 1.48 and 1.63.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Male and female patients with age between 20 to 45 years
• Patients having pain for more than 4 months
• Patients having positive upper limb neurodynamic test
• Patient with positive spurling test.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients with trauma of upper limb and cervical spine
• Dizziness
• Upper limb circulatory disturbance
• Malignancy
• Patients with bilateral symptoms