The efficiency of neural mobilization on cervical posture, pain, quality of life and functionality in patients diagnosed with cervical disc herniation

The purpose of this study is to invastigate the efficacy of neural mobilization combined with conservative rehabilitation program on cervical posture, pain, quality of life and functionality in patients diagnosed with cervical disc herniation. The study included 60 patients aged between 20-70 who were diagnosed with cervical disc herniation. The patients which are suitable for acceptance criteria were randomly divided into two groups: first group is control group (n=30) and received conservative rehabilitation program (hotpack, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), ultrasound) and the second group is experimental group (n=30), and received conservative rehabilitation program addition to neural mobilization on the radial, median and ulnar nerves. Both groups received the conservative rehabilitition program for three weeks, in total 15 sessions. In addiction, the experimental group received neural mobilization technique for three weeks, three sessions per week. Patients demografic informations, severity of pain (by using Visual Analog Scale), cervical active range of motion degree and cervical posture data (using by Tragus to Wall test, Measurement of C7 to Wall Distance) have been recorded. Furthermore, Quality of Life (Nottingham Extended Activities Scale in Daily Life), functionality (Neck Disability Index), and physical activity index questionnaires are conducted. At the end of the study, the distance between tragus and wall, which we measured for cervical posture, was found to be significantly decreased in experimental group (p<0.05), whereas there was not any significant differences in the distance between C7 and wall (p>0.05). The scores of pain and cervical active range of motion were found to be significantly different in favor of the experimental group (p<0.05). The two treatment groups were not statistically different in terms of The Neck Disability Index (p>0.05). Besides, about the quality of life only in the sub-category of daily chores there was a significant difference (p<0.05). As a result of this study, it has been concluded that when combined with conservative physiotherapy neural mobilization technique will provide additional gains in pain, active range of motion, cervical posture and insufficient quality of life in patients diagnosed with cervical disc herniation.