Effects of Mechanical Traction on Patients with Mild and Moderate Cervical Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is the most common joint disease among all the joints. It is one of the major agents of physical disabilities. Degenerative changes of the joints begin from second decade of life. Ninety percent of people have degenerative changes at 40 years of age in weight bearing joints. Osteoarthritis is common in spinal joints especially cervical spine, because of its high mobility. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of sustained mechanical traction in patients with mild and moderate cervical osteoarthritis and compare the results with a control group. Patients and A clinical trial study was conducted in the physiotherapy clinic of faculty of rehabilitation sciences. Patients with mild and moderate cervical osteoathritis were randomly assigned in control and experimental groups. Patients in control group received a routine physical therapy protocol for cervical osteoarthritis, that included superficial heat (hot pack), conventional TENS, exercise for neck and shoulder girdle muscles. Patients in experimental group received a routine physical therapy protocol plus sustained traction. Each participant was evaluated four times: immediately before the 1 st treatment session, at the 5 th treatment session, the last treatment session and 2 weeks after treatment. Intensity of the neck pain, range of the neck motions, sleep disorders and rate of medicine taking were main variables of this study. Cervical pain and mobility improved in both groups(P<0.0001). There was a significant statistical difference in improvement of cervical pain and mobility between control and experimental groups patients in experimental group showed greater improvement. There was a significant statistical difference in pain reduction between two groups in fourth evaluation(P<0.004). Based on the results it can be concluded that application of the mechanical traction in patients with mild and moderate cervical osteoarthritis is useful. It helps in the improvement of cervical pain and mobility and decreases the need of patients to take medicine(NSAID).