Cervical RadiculopathyNCT07045974
Mulligan Mobilization & Stretching Effects of Cervical
A study testing Group A-Mulligan Mobilization and Group B-Stretching Exercises in people with Cervical Radiculopathy, run by Riphah International University at 1 site in Pakistan.
Trial summary
1. To evaluate the effectiveness of mulligan mobilization and stretching exercises in reducing pain in individuals with cervical radiculopathy. 2. To evaluate the effectiveness of mulligan mobilization and stretching exercises in reducing disability in individuals with cervical radiculopathy. 3. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 20 to 50 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Cervical Radiculopathy
- What is being tested?
- Group A-Mulligan Mobilization and Group B-Stretching Exercises
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 30 participants
- Where
- 1 sitePakistan
- Study dates
- 15 Jul 2025to 30 Dec 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 20 to 50 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Participants falling in this category would be recruited into the study.
- Both genders
- Age between 20-50 years
- Subjects with neck pain radiating down to the arm
- Patients with positive findings for spurling test, Upper Limb Tension Test (ULTT), cervical distraction test and cervical rotation test towards the symptomatic side
- Subjects who were willing to participate in the study and willing to take treatment for cervical radiculopathy.
Who cannot join
- Participant failing to fall in this category would be excluded of the study.
- Systemic disease potentially affecting the musculoskeletal system Patients experiencing primary shoulder or upper extremity problem of local origin
- Patients with any cardiovascular disorders and respiratory disorders
- Patients with any other pathological conditions involving cervical spine like vertebro basilar insufficiency and canal stenosis
- Patients having osteophytes in cervical vertebrae
- Patients who were undergoing treatment for neck pain with other means of physiotherapy at the time of the study
- Hypermobile joints of cervical vertebrae, Cervical fractures, spinal surgery or other spinal pathologies (i.e. ankylosing spondylitis, spondylolysthesis)
- Peripheral nerve lesions like neurotemesis and axonotemesis
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Pakistan1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
Leady Reading Hospital (LRH), Hayatabad Medical Complex (HMC)
Peshawar, KPK, 25100
Dr. Hakeem Khan, MS, 03363199633, hakimullah.khan1992@gmail.com
Mahnoor Ali, MSPT (OMPT)
About this study
Official title: Effects of Mulligan Mobilization and Stretching on Cervical Radiculopathy
- To evaluate the effectiveness of mulligan mobilization and stretching exercises in reducing pain in individuals with cervical radiculopathy.
- To evaluate the effectiveness of mulligan mobilization and stretching exercises in reducing disability in individuals with cervical radiculopathy.
- To evaluate the effectiveness of mulligan mobilization and stretching exercises at improving ranges in individuals with cervical radiculopathy.
Read the detailed description
Cervical Radiculopathy is a condition characterized by dysfunction of cervical spinal nerve roots which occurs as a result of compression or inflammatory pathology from a space occupying lesion such as a disc herniation, decreased disc height and degenerative changes of the uncovertebral joints anteriorly and zygoapophyseal joints posteriorly. Cervical radiculopathy constitutes 5%-36% of all radiculopathies. In general, rate of occurrence of cervical radiculopathy is 83/100,000 with an increased prevalence in the fifth decade of life (203/100,000).
- Conditions
- Cervical Radiculopathy
- Being tested
- Group A-Mulligan Mobilization, Group B-Stretching Exercises
- Keywords
- Pain, Disability Level, Range of Motion
- Medical subject headings
- Radiculopathy, Pain
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Group A-Mulligan MobilizationOther
Group A will receive Mulligan mobilizations (SNAGs). Mulligan SNAGs mobilization technique was applied at level C4/5. Subjects were placed in sitting position and therapist stood behind the patient with therapist's thumbs on spinous process of particular vertebra. Mobilization was given by active movement followed by passive overpressure based on the movement restricted. The duration of treatment was three sets of ten repetitions each.
Conventional treatment include the following:
Subjects in both the groups were treated with hot pack (20 min), TENS (2 to 10 Hz), and manual traction along with deep neck flexor, and isometric neck strengthening.
Group B-Stretching ExercisesOther
Group B will receive stretching exercises. Subject was asked to lie supine on the plinth and the head was held at the edge of the plinth by the therapist. Then with one hand the therapist held the neck in cervical lateral flexion to the opposite side so as to achieve the stretching of the trapezius muscle. Myofascial release by applying sustained finger pressure for 5-10 s on the involved trapezius was given. A gentle myofascial stretching force was applied to take up slack and sustained until a release occurred. This protocol comprised four sets of 15 stretches with 3 min rest.
Conventional treatment include the following:
Subjects in both the groups were treated with hot pack (20 min), TENS (2 to 10 Hz), manual traction along with deep neck flexor, and isometric neck strengthening.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Group A-Mulligan Mobilization | Experimental | Mulligan SNAGs mobilization technique was applied at level C4/5. Receives: Other: Group A-Mulligan Mobilization |
| Group B-Stretching Exercises | Experimental | Cervical stretching exercises will be performed. Receives: Other: Group B-Stretching Exercises |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Change in Cervical Pain Intensity Measured by Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS)
The NPRS is a segmented numeric version of the visual analog scale (VAS) in which a respondent selects a whole number (0-10 integers) that best reflects the intensity of his/her pain The 11-point numeric scale ranges from '0' representing one pain extreme (e.g. "no pain") to '10' representing the other pain extreme (e.g. "pain as bad as you can imagine" or "worst pain imaginable") High test-retest reliability has been observed in both literate and illiterate patients with rheumatoid arthritis (r = 0.96 and 0.95, respectively) before and after medical consultation.
Measured: 4 Weeks
Cervical Range of Motion by Inclinometer
An inclinometer is a device used to measure angles. It is commonly used in physiotherapy to measure the range of motion (ROM) of joints and very similar to a goniometer.
The digital inclinometer demonstrated excellent reliability (ICC=0.75-0.86), except for the right lateral flexion (ICC=0.74) and left rotation (ICC=0.72).
Measured: 4 Weeks
Cervical Disability by Neck Disability Index (NDI)
This questionnaire has been designed to give us information as to how your neck pain has affected your ability to manage in everyday life.
Score: /50 Transform to percentage score x 100 = %points. It has 7 items for daily living, 2 for pain and 1 for concentration. Each item is rated from 0 to 5. Total score is presented in percentage. Higher score tells greater disability while 0 means no disability(16).Total score is 50. In cervical radiculopathy patients it has moderate test retest reliability ICC= 0.68 (22).The NDI has a fair to moderate test-retest reliability in patients with mechanical neck pain but also for patients with cervical radiculopathy. The NDI has a good construct validity.
Measured: 4 Weeks
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted1 Jul 2025
- Study start15 Jul 2025
- Primary completion30 Jul 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion30 Dec 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Cervical RadiculopathyStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Riphah International UniversityThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 30 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Riphah International University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Ayesha Sadiq, MSPT (OMPT), Principal investigator, Riphah International University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07045974
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- REC-01012 Mahnoor Ali
- Status last verified
- Feb 2026
- First submitted
- 23 Jun 2025
- Last updated
- 25 Feb 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 25 Feb 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Effects of Mulligan Mobilization and Stretching on Cervical Radiculopathy
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07045974
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- REC-01012 Mahnoor Ali
- Conditions
- Cervical Radiculopathy
- Keywords
- Pain, Disability Level, Range of Motion
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 30 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Riphah International UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 15 Jul 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 30 Jul 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 30 Dec 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 1 Jul 2025 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
- To evaluate the effectiveness of mulligan mobilization and stretching exercises in reducing pain in individuals with cervical radiculopathy.
- To evaluate the effectiveness of mulligan mobilization and stretching exercises in reducing disability in individuals with cervical radiculopathy.
- To evaluate the effectiveness of mulligan mobilization and stretching exercises at improving ranges in individuals with cervical radiculopathy.
Detailed description
Cervical Radiculopathy is a condition characterized by dysfunction of cervical spinal nerve roots which occurs as a result of compression or inflammatory pathology from a space occupying lesion such as a disc herniation, decreased disc height and degenerative changes of the uncovertebral joints anteriorly and zygoapophyseal joints posteriorly. Cervical radiculopathy constitutes 5%-36% of all radiculopathies. In general, rate of occurrence of cervical radiculopathy is 83/100,000 with an increased prevalence in the fifth decade of life (203/100,000).
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Group A-Mulligan Mobilization | Experimental | Other: Group A-Mulligan MobilizationMulligan SNAGs mobilization technique was applied at level C4/5. |
| Group B-Stretching Exercises | Experimental | Other: Group B-Stretching ExercisesCervical stretching exercises will be performed. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 20 to 50 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (6 listed)
- Participants falling in this category would be recruited into the study.
Key exclusion criteria (8 listed)
- Participant failing to fall in this category would be excluded of the study.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Group A-Mulligan MobilizationGroup A will receive Mulligan mobilizations (SNAGs). Mulligan SNAGs mobilization technique was applied at level C4/5. Subjects were placed in sitting position and therapist stood behind the patient with therapist's thumbs on spinous process of particular vertebra. Mobilization was given by active movement followed by passive overpressure based on the movement restricted. The duration of treatment was three sets of ten repetitions each. Conventional treatment include the following: Subjects in both the groups were treated with hot pack (20 min), TENS (2 to 10 Hz), and manual traction along with deep neck flexor, and isometric neck strengthening. | Other | Group A-Mulligan Mobilization |
| Group B-Stretching ExercisesGroup B will receive stretching exercises. Subject was asked to lie supine on the plinth and the head was held at the edge of the plinth by the therapist. Then with one hand the therapist held the neck in cervical lateral flexion to the opposite side so as to achieve the stretching of the trapezius muscle. Myofascial release by applying sustained finger pressure for 5-10 s on the involved trapezius was given. A gentle myofascial stretching force was applied to take up slack and sustained until a release occurred. This protocol comprised four sets of 15 stretches with 3 min rest. Conventional treatment include the following: Subjects in both the groups were treated with hot pack (20 min), TENS (2 to 10 Hz), manual traction along with deep neck flexor, and isometric neck strengthening. | Other | Group B-Stretching Exercises |
Primary outcome
Change in Cervical Pain Intensity Measured by Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS)
Time frame: 4 Weeks
The NPRS is a segmented numeric version of the visual analog scale (VAS) in which a respondent selects a whole number (0-10 integers) that best reflects the intensity of his/her pain The 11-point numeric scale ranges from '0' representing one pain extreme (e.g. "no pain") to '10' representing the other pain extreme (e.g. "pain as bad as you can imagine" or "worst pain imaginable") High test-retest reliability has been observed in both literate and illiterate patients with rheumatoid arthritis (r = 0.96 and 0.95, respectively) before and after medical consultation.
Cervical Range of Motion by Inclinometer
Time frame: 4 Weeks
An inclinometer is a device used to measure angles. It is commonly used in physiotherapy to measure the range of motion (ROM) of joints and very similar to a goniometer. The digital inclinometer demonstrated excellent reliability (ICC=0.75-0.86), except for the right lateral flexion (ICC=0.74) and left rotation (ICC=0.72).
Cervical Disability by Neck Disability Index (NDI)
Time frame: 4 Weeks
This questionnaire has been designed to give us information as to how your neck pain has affected your ability to manage in everyday life. Score: /50 Transform to percentage score x 100 = %points. It has 7 items for daily living, 2 for pain and 1 for concentration. Each item is rated from 0 to 5. Total score is presented in percentage. Higher score tells greater disability while 0 means no disability(16).Total score is 50. In cervical radiculopathy patients it has moderate test retest reliability ICC= 0.68 (22).The NDI has a fair to moderate test-retest reliability in patients with mechanical neck pain but also for patients with cervical radiculopathy. The NDI has a good construct validity.
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 25 Feb 2026.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
Ayesha Sadiq, MSPT (OMPT) principal investigator
Riphah International University
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Group A-Mulligan Mobilization and Group B-Stretching Exercises in people with Cervical Radiculopathy, run by Riphah International University at 1 site in Pakistan.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 6 inclusion and 8 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 25 Feb 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Pakistan. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Ayesha Sadiq, MSPT (OMPT) (03346257484, ayesha.sadiq@riphah.edu.pk), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Change in Cervical Pain Intensity Measured by Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) (time frame: 4 Weeks). The study lists 3 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 25 Feb 2026.