Combination of Cervical Traction with Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation on Patient with Cervical Radiculopathy:A Case Report

Abstract

Cervical radiculopathy is the result of cervical nerve root pathology with the sensory, motor and reflexes changes that may lead to chronic pain and disability. Although, conservative interventions including cervical traction, TENS and exercises have been previously shown to be effective in reducing pain and disability caused by cervical radiculopathy, the combined effect of the same has not been documented.The purpose of this study is to present the effect of cervical traction combined with TENS followed by exercises on pain and disability in a patient with cervical radiculopathy. A 34-year-old man presented with an acute history of neurological cervicobrachial pain and whose diagnosis was confirmed with cervical radiculopathy as per the clinical prediction rule. Cervical traction and TENS was applied simultaneously followed by exercises to reduce the patient's pain and disability measured at baseline and after 1 week using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale, the Neck Disability Index and the Patient-Specific Functional Scale. Improvements in all outcome measures were noted over a period of one week. Results showed that the patient's pain had almost disappeared and he was able to return to job without difficulties and limitations. In conclusion, the findings of this study support that the application of cervical traction combined with TENS can produce significant improvements in terms of pain and disability in cervical radiculopathy.