EFFECT OF EXTRACORPOREAL SHOCKWAVE THERAPY IN THE MANAGEMENT OF CERVICAL FACET SYNDROME

Abstract

Background: Cervical facet syndrome is a degenerative condition of the vertebral facet joints in the cervical region of the spine that is associated with pain in those areas of the neck. Various conservative treatments are often proposed for individuals with this condition, yet there is limited evidence regarding the treatments that may be most effective. Extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) is a form of treatment that has shown promise for various musculoskeletal conditions. However, there has not been much investigation regarding whether this treatment is effective for individuals with cervical facet syndrome.

Methods: A pre-test-post-test study was performed at the outpatient Physiotherapy Department of Dr. M.G.R. Educational and Research Institute University. Thirty subjects of both sexes between the ages of 30 and 60 years who had been diagnosed with cervical facet syndrome were randomly selected. Those with any neurological impairments, radiculopathies, upper limb dysfunctions, or conditions like osteoporosis were excluded from the study. Each subject was treated with ESWT at a dosage of 0.1 mJ/mm2, at a frequency of 4 Hz, with 350 pulses at 10 pulses/cm2 per level, and the treatments were provided twice per week over a period of six weeks. Various outcome measures including the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), the Neck Disability Index (NDI), and the CROM were recorded before treatment (pre-test) and after treatment (post-test). Furthermore, each of these variables was analysed to determine any statistically significant differences between the pre-test and post-test measurements (p ≤ 0.001).

Results: A significant difference was found between the mean pre-test and post-test measurements of each of the outcome measures (p ≤ 0.001). Thus, each of the subjects had a marked improvement in each of these variables following the administration of ESWT.

Conclusion: These outcomes indicate that extracorporeal shockwave therapy is an effective form of treatment for individuals with cervical facet syndrome. The treatments led to significant improvements in each of the outcome measures that were used to evaluate the subjects (VAS, NDI, and CROM). Thus, ESWT has the potential to be incorporated into the treatment plans for individuals with cervical facet syndrome. Further studies on this topic are recommended to provide further proof of these outcomes.

Keywords: Extra corporeal shock wave therapy, cervical facet syndrome, osteoarthritis, visual analog scale, range of motion, neck disability index.