Comparison between electrotherapy and manual therapy in cervical radiculopathy: Literature review

Abstract

Background: Cervical radiculopathy (CR) is a broad term that included any dysfunction related to the nerve root on cervical area. Most commonly affected nerve root C6- C7. Cervical radiculopathy is the condition in which patient feel pain, numbness, paraesthesia, tingling effect in cervical hand and upper extremity due to impingement of nerve in cervical area. The cause of nerve impingement is PIVD, instability, trauma, athletic changes; slip disc, cervical foraminal stenosis, and bone spur formation. A large number of Physiotherapy treatment was suggested which are feasible for CR including exercise mobilisation isometric exercise with therapeutic modalities TENS, US, IFT. This study is to discover the efficacy of TENS, IFT, US versus mobilization and isometric exercises, as an intervention for the patients having CR. Aim- -The purpose of this study was to compare manual therapy and electrotherapy in cervical radiculopathy patients. Method- We included 30 articles in this study, 15 for manual therapy and 15 for electrotherapy, based on randomised controlled trials. Manual therapy included isometric exercises, mobilisation, and physical exercises, while electrotherapy included ultrasonography and interferential current. T