Effectiveness of Intermittent Pelvic Traction With and Without Self Neural Tissue Mobilization in Lumbar Radiculopathy

Abstract

Background: Low back pain is a very common problem in adults. The clinical application of intermittent pelvic traction has become the common treatment for lumbar radiculopathy and is also used by clinicians in day to day practice. Only few authors have studied about the effectiveness of self neural tissue mobilization during intermittent pelvic traction. Hence the study was undertaken with an intention to find out the effect of intermittent pelvic traction with and without self neural tissue mobilization on pain and functional disability in patients with lumbar radiculopathy.Methodology: 74 patients with lumbar radiculopathy were included in the study. Subjects were randomly divided into two groups. Group A received only IPT and Group B received IPT with SNTM for 20 minutes with 10 second hold and rest time respectively. The treatment was given initially for 6 days continuously thereafter the treatment was given on alternate days for 1 week. Pre and post intervention pain (VAS) and functional disability (ODI) measures were noted.Results: On comparison between pre and post interventional values of pain and functional disability using paired 't' test, a significant difference (p<0.001) were found in both the groups. As well as the present study showed significant decrease in the pain measurement (p=0.023) and functional disability measures (p=0.043) in group treated with IPT with SNTM.Conclusions: This study concluded that both IPT and IPT with SNTM are effective in both pain and functional disability measures. But when both groups were compared with each other, the IPT with SNTM was more effective than that of IPT alone. So it can be chosen as a treatment for lumbar radiculopathy.