MULLIGAN MOBILIZATION TECHNIQUE VERSUS NEURAL MOBILIZATION ON NERVE ROOT FUNCTION IN PATIENTS WITH CERVICAL RADICULOPATHY: RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL

Abstract

Rania N Karkousha, Amany I Selem*, Maher A El kablawy, Samir A Aly and Magda R Zahran

Objective: To look into the impact of Mulligan mobilization versus neural mobilization on nerve root function.

Methods: Seventy-two cervical radiculopathy patients were randomly divided into three separate groups of equal size; group A was administered Mulligan therapy besides conventional treatment, group (B) was administered neural mobilization besides conventional treatment and group (C) was administered conventional treatment only, over the course of four weeks, treatment was administered to each group three times weekly. Electromyography device was utilized to measure peak to peak amplitude, latency and F-wave, while digital commander algometer was utilized to assess pressure pain threshold as well as Arabic version of Neck Disability Index was utilized to assess cervical neck function.

Results: In all measured variables, There was no statistically significant difference among three groups pretreatment as p>0.05, while was a statistically significant difference among the three groups post-treatment, with a p-value of less than 0.05. Group B showed more favorable results. Additionally, there was a statistically significant difference between the pre and post-treatment measurements in groups A and B for all variables, while there was only statistical substantial difference in pressure pain threshold as well as cervical neck function in group C as p<0.05.

Conclusion: Both Mulligan mobilization technique as well as neural mobilization have a positive effect on amplitude, latency, F-wave, pressure pain threshold and neck function with more superiority to neural mobilization. Both techniques are effective in the rehabilitation of patients with cervical radiculopathy.