DOES MYOFASCIAL RELEASE TECHNIQUE CONTRIBUTE TO CERVICAL RADICULOPATHY TREATMENT? CUES FROM A NONCONTROLLED EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN STUDY

Ritika Sambyal,Monika Moitra,Asir John Samuel,Senthil Paramasivam Kumar

doi:10.17267/2238-2704rpf.v6i2.820

Ritika Sambyal, Monika Moitra + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.17267/2238-2704rpf.v6i2.820

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Abstract

Background: Neck is common and its incidence is increasing throughout the world. Neck pain with Cervical Radiculopathy (CR), nowadays, is frequently diagnosed in physiotherapy clinics and hospitals. The focus of all the existing treatments of CR focuses only on relieving pain and treating the radicular symptoms rather than on the muscle dysfunction itself. Objective of study: To evaluate the effect of Myofascial Release (MFR) in decreasing Neck Disability (NDI) in patients with CR. Methods: A total of 15 patients with CR and Myofascial Trigger Points (MTrPs) in upper trapezius were recruited for the study. The intervention took place in 5 consecutive days. Data were analysed by using Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test and central tendency as mean with a 95% Confidence Interval (CI). Results: After 5 days of intervention the results showed significant changes in scores of NDI 22.66 (17.3-27.9) (mean with 95% CI; p<0.001), Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) 3.8 (3.2-4.3) (mean with 95% CI; p<0.001) and Upper Limb Neurodynamic Test for median nerve (ULNT1) 61.25 (45.2-77.2) (mean with 95% CI; p<0.001). Conclusion: MFR was effective in treating the patients with CR.

Highlights

The annual prevalence of cervical radiculopathy is 83.2 per 100,000 population.[1,2] Cervical Radiculopathy (CR) is defined as a neurologic condition that occurs because of compression and inflammation of cervical nerve root or roots in the neural foramen due to cervical disc herniation, cervical spondylosis or osteophytosis.[1,3] Clinically, CR presents itself as a severe neck pain and a sharp or radiating pain with a tingling or burning sensation along the dermatomal distribution in upper extremity which is aggravated by neck movement and may cause symptoms like reflex loss, dermatomal numbness or myotomal weakness.[4,5,6,7]
Studies have concluded that myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) are predominantly present on the side of radiculopathy.[8,9,10,11] Myofascial Release (MFR) is considered to be effective in treating the Myofascial Trigger Points (MTrPs).[12,13,14,15,16,17] A study has been done to assess the effect of gross MFR of upper limb and neck on pain and function in subjects with mechanical neck pain with upper limb radiculopathy which concluded that gross MFR is effective in reducing mechanical neck pain and in improving functional abilities.[15]
The patients with CR have multiple MTrPs with predominance to the side of radiculopathy.[8,9,11] many interventions are accepted for CR,(2,1620) substantial evidence regarding effect of MFR on treating MTrPs in patients with CR is still lacking

Summary

Introduction

The patients with CR have multiple MTrPs with predominance to the side of radiculopathy.[8,9,11] many interventions are accepted for CR,(2,1620) substantial evidence regarding effect of MFR on treating MTrPs in patients with CR is still lacking. Objective of study: To evaluate the effect of Myofascial Release (MFR) in decreasing Neck Disability (NDI) in patients with CR. Methods: A total of 15 patients with CR and Myofascial Trigger Points (MTrPs) in upper trapezius were recruited for the study. Results: After 5 days of intervention the results showed significant changes in scores of NDI 22.66 (17.3-27.9) (mean with 95% CI; p

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Results

Conclusion