Long-term Effect of Sling-massage Exercise on Cervical Spondylopathy / 中国康复理论与实践

ABSTRACT

Objective:To explore the effect of sling-massage exercise on neck type cervical spondylopathy (NTCS). Methods:From June, 2020 to February, 2021, 68 patients with NTCS from the Second Affiliated Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine were randomly divided into control group (n = 34) and observation group (n = 34). The control group accepted routine massage, while the observation group accepted sling exercise and massage based on weak link test, for four weeks. They were assessed with McGill Pain Qusetionnaire (MPQ) and Neck Disability Index (NDI) before and after treatment, and measured median frequency (MF) of the upper trapezius muscle on the affected side with electromyography biofeedback before treatment, after treatment, two weeks after treatment and 4 weeks after treatment. Results:Four cases in the control group and three cases in the observation group dropped down. The scores of MPQ and NDI decreased in both groups after treatment (|Z| > 4.879, P < 0.001), while MF increased (P < 0.001). There was no significant difference in scores of MPQ and NDI between the two groups after treatment (|Z| < 1.100, P > 0.05), while MF was less in the control group than in the observation group (t = 2.184, P < 0.05). MF decreased more in the control group than in the observation group, and was continually less in the control group than in the observation group after treatment (t > 3.770, P < 0.001). Conclusion:Sling-massage exercise is as effective as massage on NTCS immediately, and for more time.