Kinetic Control versus Mulligan Mobilization Effect on Functional Outcomes in Patients with Lumbar Radiculopathy: Randomized Comparative Study

Objective: To investigate the effect of kinetic control retraining versus the hands-on Mulligan SMWLM on functional outcomes in patients with lumbar radiculopathy. Methods: Design: Randomized Comparative Study. Setting: Outpatient, faculty of physical therapy clinic of Cairo university. Participants: Sixty subjects, suffered from chronic LBP with radiculopathy randomized equally into two groups. Intervention: The Kinetic control group, thirty subjects received kinetic control retraining plus convectional physical therapy. Mulligan group, thirty subjects received Mulligan`s mobilization plus convectional physical therapy, (for 3setions/week, for 8weeks). Outcome measures: All patients were examined by inclinometer (for trunk range of motion), Oswestry disability index (for functional ability), pain detect questionnaire (neuropathic pain) and visual analogue scale(for pain intensity). All outcomes were measured initially at baseline and after intervention. Results: After the intervention, both groups showed significant improvement on the outcome measures with superior improvement of the kinetic control group for Oswestry Disability Index (P < 0.001, from 76.93 +/- 6.87 to 14.8 +/- 2.27 and pain detect questionnaire (P < 0.001, from 34.26 +/- 1.98 to 12.66 +/- 2.16, pain intensity including visual analogue scale (P < 0.001, from 7.53 +/- 0.52 to 2.06 +/- 0.7, Lumbar ROM using Inclinometer: flexion (P < 0.001, from 55.86 +/- 3.1 to 67.93 +/- 2.21, extension (P < 0.001, from 18.13 +/- 1.72 to 25.73 +/- 1.62 and lateral flexion ROM from 19.6 +/- 1.72 to 27.06 +/- 1.87.Conclusion: Kinetic control retraining intervention gave a superior effect on improving functional outcomes in patients with lumbar radiculopathy compared to Mulligan's mobilization.