The Efficacy Of Chinese Massage Therapy Combined With Traditional Chinese Exercise Compared With Intermittent Cervical Traction For Patients With Nonspecific Chronic Neck Pain:A Randomized Controlled Trial

Objective:The aim of this study was to assess the pain and cervical function in patients with nonspecificchronic neck pain (NCNP) systematically, and to investigate the efficiency of Chinese massage therapy combined with Traditional Chinese Exercise for patients with NCNP.Method:1. It was across-sectional study with 70 subjects including 50 patients with NCNP and matched 20 healthy controls. The Neck Disability Index (NDI) and Visual Analog Scale (VAS) of the patients were assessed. All subjects underwent measurements for cervical active range of motion (AROM) (flexion, extension, left lateral flexion, right lateral flexion, left rotation and right rotation) and maximum isometric strength (flexion, extension, left lateral flexion and right lateral flexion) of the neck muscles using a Multi-Cervical Unit (MCU, BTE technologies).2.A total of 102 subjects were recruited, and randomized to the treatment group (Chinese massage therapycombined with Traditional Chinese Exercise) or the control group(the intermittent cervical traction). Both groups underwent a 2-week treatment. The Neck Disability Index (NDI), Visual Analog Scale (VAS), cervical active range of motion (AROM), and isometric muscle strength of the neck were assessed pre-and post intervention. During the one-month follow-up all subjects were retested by VAS and NDI.Results:1. The NCNP patients had a VAS of 48 (42.42,49.46) mm, and a NDI score of 12(10,15.25). Significantly decrease of both AROM and neck muscle strength was found in the NCNP group compared with controls (P<0.05).2.Boththe treatment group and the control group showed significant decreases in the VAS and NDI scores among patients with NCNP. The treatment group had larger reduction in VAS (P=0.009) at immediate post-intervention and greater decline in both VAS (P=0.001) and NDI (P=0.008) at the one-month follow-up. After a two-week intervention, significant increases in AROM (P<0.05) and isometric muscle strength (P<0.05) were found in both groups, but no significant difference was found between groups (P>0.05).Conclusion:1. NCNP patients showed medium pain intensity, decreased neck muscle strength and AROM with mild cervical functional disorder.2.Chinese massage therapy combined with Traditional Chinese Exercise can benefit patients with NCNP in pain relief and cervical function improvement. It is a safe, practical method with superior effectiveness in longer effect sustainment compared to intermittent cervical traction.