title: A randomized controlled trial on the efficacy of intermittent cervical traction for patients with chronic neck pain.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the efficacy of intermittent cervical traction in the treatment of chronic neck pain over a 12-week follow-up.
  
  
  METHODS
  A randomized controlled trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hospital-based outpatient practice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-nine patients with chronic neck pain.
  
  
  METHODS
  Subjects were randomly assigned to either experimental group (n = 39, mean age = 50.5 ± 9.8) or control group (n = 40, mean age = 48.8 ± 9.1). Experimental group received intermittent cervical traction and control group received infrared irradiation alone; twice a week over a period of six weeks.
  
  
  METHODS
  The values of Chinese version of the Northwick Park Neck Pain Questionnaire (NPQ), verbal numerical pain scale (VNPS), and cervical active range of motion (AROM) were measured at baseline, six-week and 12-week follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant differences were found between the two groups in the NPQ (P > 0.05), VNPS (P > 0.05) and AROM (P > 0.05).
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong. rstchiu@polyu.edu.hk
authors.forename: Thomas T W
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Chiu
authors.forename: Joseph Kim-Fai
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.forename: Barbro
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Walther-Zhang
authors.forename: Rex J H
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Luc
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ortelli
authors.forename: Siew Kuan
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Chua
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002681:China; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000628:therapy*; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods; D014143:Traction; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult