title: Blood pressure and pulse rate changes associated with cervical traction.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study was carried out at the Physiotherapy unit of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, to observe the effects of continuous cervical traction for 10 minutes on arterial blood pressure and pulse rate.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty healthy subjects free of any cardiovascular complications, participated in the study. Systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and pulse rate (PR), were recorded before, during and after the application of cervical traction 10% body weight, using spty-pulse 2000 Electronic sphygmomanometer.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Analysis of variance showed statistically significant (P < 0.05) increase in systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and pulse rate (PR) from 114.6 +/- 10.4 mmHg, 72.4 +/- 9.5 mmHg and 71.7 +/- 5.9 beats/min to 123.5 +/- 9.8 mmHg, 77.9 +/- 8.9 mmHg and 78.2 +/- 5.7 beats/min respectively following traction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is advised that clinicians should comprehensively assess all cardiovascular parameters of patients before applying cervical traction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy, University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Maiduguri.
authors.forename: V A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Utti
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ege
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Lukman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013128:Spinal Osteophytosis / Q000534:rehabilitation; D013997:Time Factors; D014143:Traction / Q000009:adverse effects*