SynthesisThe Cochrane database of systematic reviews2008
Mechanical traction for neck pain with or without radiculopathy.
Synthesis in The Cochrane database of systematic reviews, 2008. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT03888573 (Which is Better to Decompress the Nerve Roots in Cervical Radiculopathy), which is not on this map. Cited by 18 papers.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Which is Better to Decompress the Nerve Roots in Cervical Radiculopathy: Stretching or Traction From Foraminal Opening Position
Who cites it
18 citing papers in PubMed, 85 citations in OpenAlex.
- Trial
- Integrating Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy Within Multidisciplinary Biopsychosocial Care for Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain.Journal of orthopaedics and sports medicine · 2026Article
- Noncontact optical 3D strain measurements in cervical soft tissues biomechanics by digital image correlation under tensile test: an experimental approach.Frontiers in bioengineering and biotechnology · 2025Article
- Design and Validation of a Novel Robotic Neck Brace for Cervical Traction.IEEE/ASME transactions on mechatronics : a joint publication of the IEEE Industrial Electronics Society and the ASME Dynamic Systems and Control Division · 2024Article
- Multi-Level Posterior Cervical Foraminotomy Associated With Increased Post-operative Infection Rates and Overall Re-Operation Relative to Anterior Cervical Discectomy With Fusion or Cervical Disc Arthroplasty.Global spine journal · 2024Article
- Efficacy and Safety of Korean Herbal Medicine for Patients with Post-Accident Syndrome, Persistent after Acute Phase: A Pragmatic Randomized Controlled Trial.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2023Article
- Short-Term Effects of Dry Needling with a Standard Exercise Program on Pain and Quality of Life in Patients with Chronic Mechanical Neck Pain.Journal of clinical medicine · 2022Article
- Prevalence and changes of low-value care at acute care hospitals: a multicentre observational study in Japan.BMJ open · 2022Observational
- Consideration in Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial on Neck Pain to Avoid the Placebo Effect in Analgesic Action.Frontiers in pharmacology · 2022Article
- Effect of a Traction Exercise Neck Brace on Cervical Spondylopathy Radiculopathy: A Clinical Study and Finite Element Analysis.Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM · 2021Article
- Traction Therapy for Cervical Radicular Syndrome is Statistically Significant but not Clinically Relevant for Pain Relief. A Systematic Literature Review with Meta-Analysis and Trial Sequential Analysis.Journal of clinical medicine · 2020Review
- Predicting the evolution of neck pain episodes in routine clinical practice.BMC musculoskeletal disorders · 2019Article
- Treatment preferences amongst physical therapists and chiropractors for the management of neck pain: results of an international survey.Chiropractic & manual therapies · 2014Article
- Evidence of Physiotherapy Interventions for Patients with Chronic Neck Pain: A Systematic Review of Randomised Controlled Trials.ISRN Pain · 2013Review
- An ICON Overview on Physical Modalities for Neck Pain and Associated Disorders.The open orthopaedics journal · 2013Article
- What Does the Cochrane Collaboration Say about Physiotherapy Interventions for Spinal Dysfunction?Physiotherapy Canada. Physiotherapie Canada · 2011Article
- Prevalence, practice patterns, and evidence for chronic neck pain.Arthritis care & research · 2010Article
- Informing your practice with reviews published by the cochrane back review group: conservative interventions for neck and back pain.Physiotherapy Canada. Physiotherapie Canada · 2010Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
7 authors at 5 institutions in 3 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundNeck pain is a frequently reported complaint of the musculoskeletal system which can be disabling and costly to society. Mechanical traction is often used as an adjunct therapy in outpatient rehabilitation.
objectivesTo assess the effects of mechanical traction for neck disorders. SEARCH STRATEGY: A research librarian searched computerized bibliographic databases without language restrictions up to March 2008 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) from the medical, chiropractic, and allied health literature. SELECTION CRITERIA: The RCTs we selected examined adults with neck disorders who received mechanical traction alone or in combination with other treatments compared to a placebo or another treatment. Our outcomes of interest were pain, function, disability, global perceived effect, patient satisfaction, and quality of life measures. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two review authors with different backgrounds in medicine, physiotherapy, massage therapy and chiropractics independently conducted study selection, risk of bias assessment and data abstraction using pre-piloted forms. We resolved disagreement through consensus. MAIN
resultsOf the seven selected RCTs (total participants = 958), only one (N = 100) had a low risk of bias. It found no statistically significant difference (SMD -0.16: 95%CI: -0.59 to 0.27) between continuous traction and placebo traction in reducing pain or improving function for chronic neck disorders with radicular symptoms. Our review found no evidence from RCTs with a low potential for bias that clearly supports or refutes the use of either continuous or intermittent traction for neck disorders. AUTHORS'
conclusionsThe current literature does not support or refute the efficacy or effectiveness of continuous or intermittent traction for pain reduction, improved function or global perceived effect when compared to placebo traction, tablet or heat or other conservative treatments in patients with chronic neck disorders. Large, well conducted RCTs are needed to first determine the efficacy of traction, then the effectiveness, for individuals with neck disorders with radicular symptoms.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.