A randomized controlled trial on the efficacy of intermittent cervical traction for patients with chronic neck pain

Objective: To investigate the efficacy of intermittent cervical traction in the treatment of chronic neck pain over a 12-week follow-up. Design: A randomized controlled trial. Setting: Hospital-based outpatient practice. Subjects: Seventy-nine patients with chronic neck pain. Interventions: Subjects were randomly assigned to either experimental group (n = 39, mean age = 50.5 +/- 9.8) or control group (n = 40, mean age 48.8 +/- 9.1). Experimental group received intermittent cervical traction and control group received infrared irradiation alone; twice a week over a period of six weeks. Outcome measurements: The values of Chinese version of the Northwick Park Neck Pain Questionnaire (NPQ), verbal numerical pain scale (VNPS), and cervical active range of motion (AROM) were measured at baseline, six-week and 12-week follow-up. Results: No significant differences were found between the two groups in the NPQ (P > 0.05), VNPS (P > 0.05) and AROM (P > 0.05).