COMPARATIVE EFFECTS OF MULLIGAN TRACTION AND SLUMP STRETCH ON PAIN AND AUTONOMIC FUNCTION IN CHRONIC LUMBAR RADICULOPATHY

Abstract

Background: Chronic lumbar radiculopathy is a prevalent musculoskeletal condition characterized by persistent pain, restricted mobility, functional disability, and impaired quality of life. Neural mobilization techniques, including traction-based leg raise therapy and slump stretching, are commonly incorporated into physiotherapy rehabilitation; however, their comparative effects on pain and autonomic function remain insufficiently established.

Objective: To compare the effects of traction-based leg raise therapy and slump stretch therapy on pain intensity, neural mobility, and autonomic cardiovascular function in adults with chronic lumbar radiculopathy.

Methods: This randomized controlled trial included 60 adults aged 18–60 years who met the predefined eligibility criteria. Participants were randomly allocated into two groups. Group a received traction-based leg raise therapy combined with lumbar stabilization exercises, whereas Group B received slump stretch therapy combined with lumbar stabilization exercises. Both interventions were administered three times weekly for 12 weeks. Pain intensity was assessed using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), while autonomic function was evaluated through heart rate variability (HRV), resting heart rate, and blood pressure. Straight leg raise performance was also assessed as an indicator of neural mobility. Paired-samples and independent-samples t-tests were used for within- and between-group comparisons, respectively.

Results: Both groups demonstrated significant reductions in pain intensity following the intervention (p < 0.001). Mean VAS scores decreased from 6.39 ± 1.08 to 2.91 ± 1.25 in the traction-based leg raise group and from 6.47 ± 1.15 to 3.83 ± 1.36 in the slump stretch group. The reduction in pain was significantly greater in the traction-based leg raise group than in the slump stretch group (3.49 ± 0.74 vs. 2.64 ± 0.63, p < 0.001). Both interventions also produced significant improvements in straight leg raise, HRV parameters, resting heart rate, and blood pressure (p < 0.001); however, the between-group differences in these outcomes were not statistically significant.

Conclusion: Both traction-based leg raise therapy and slump stretch therapy, when combined with lumbar stabilization exercises, were effective in reducing pain and improving neural mobility and autonomic cardiovascular function in individuals with chronic lumbar radiculopathy. However, traction-based leg raise therapy demonstrated superior efficacy in reducing pain intensity.