"Assessing The Impact Of Cervical Lateral Glide On Cervical Spondylosis With Unilateral Radiculopathy"

Abstract

Background: Unilateral radiculopathy with cervical spondylosis is a prevalent musculoskeletal disorder that produces pain, limited movement in the neck, and disability. Manual therapy interventions like Maitland Cervical Lateral Glide have been suggested to reduce symptoms but require more evidence for their clinical effectiveness.

Objective: To determine the effect of Maitland Cervical Lateral Glide on cervical range of motion, pain severity, and disability in subjects with cervical spondylosis with single radiculopathy.

Methods: A pre-test and post-test experimental design was used with 30 participants randomly divided into two groups: an experimental group receiving combined conventional physiotherapy and Maitland Cervical Lateral Glide, and a control group receiving conventional physiotherapy alone. Participants aged 30-60 years with clinically and radiologically diagnosed cervical spondylosis and unilateral radiculopathy were included. Outcome measures included cervical range of motion (ROM), Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), and Neck Disability Index (NDI). Data were analyzed using paired t-tests to compare pre- and post-treatment results within groups.

Results: The experimental group indicated considerable enhancement in cervical flexion (p < 0.0001), extension (p < 0.0001), levels of pain (p < 0.0001), and disability levels (p = 0.0154). The control group did not show any significant alteration in any of the outcome measures. The results suggest that Maitland Cervical Lateral Glide, used along with traditional physiotherapy, greatly enhances cervical mobility and alleviates pain and disability.

Conclusion: Maitland Cervical Lateral Glide, when employed as an adjunct to standard physiotherapy, is effective in enhancing clinical outcome in patients with cervical spondylosis with unilateral radiculopathy. Its application in the clinical setting can potentially hasten recovery and enhance quality of life. Further research with larger sample sizes and longer follow-up is advocated to verify these results.