AIM: To explore the complementary action and mechanism of cervical local-point traction manipulation and silver needle heat conductive treatments for cervical spinal canal stenosis (CSCS). METHODS: Totally 150 CSCS patients diagnosed with CT scanning or MRI examination were selected from the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Chinese PLA General Hospital between February 2002 and February 2006. They were randomly divided into three groups with 50 patients in each group: Cervical local-point traction manipulation treatment was performed to the segment of canal stenosis once a week totally for 2 times. Silver needle heat conductive treatment group: Silver needle heat conductive treatment was conducted on patient's neck and shoulders once a week totally for 2 times. Successive group: Cervical local-point traction manipulation treatment and silver needle heat conductive treatment were successively done twice. The numeric rating scale (NRS) score and improvements of clinical signs as well as curative effects were compared in three groups before treatment and 3 months as well as 6 months after the treatment. RESULTS: All the patients accomplished the treatment and index assessment, thus entered the result analysis. (1) The NRS scores decreased in three groups after 3-month treatment than those before treatment, especially in the successive group (8.62 +/- 1.39, 2.36 +/- 2.80, Chi2 = 2.52, p < 0.01). And most of the painful symptoms were controlled after 6-month treatment, which was the most significant in the successive group (1.12 +/- 2.78, Chi2 = 4.02, p < 0.01). There were significant differences between cervical local-point traction manipulation group and silver needle heat conductive treatment group as well as those between silver needle heat conduction treatment group and successive group (p < 0.05). (2) After one-month treatment, the clinical signs of three groups were all improved notably, especially the positive rate of cervical squeeze press test. The differences were much more significant between the successive group and silver needle heat conductive treatment group, and between the successive group and cervical local-point traction manipulation group (Chi2 = 9.25, 9.02, p < 0.01), whereas there was no remarkable difference between the cervical local-point traction manipulation group and silver needle heat conductive treatment group (p > 0.05). (3) There were significant differences in the validity among the cervical local-point traction manipulation group, successive group and the silver needle heat conductive treatment group (which were respectively 88%, 78% and 78%, Chi2 = 6.31, 6.11, p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Cervical local-point traction manipulation treatment is effective for relieving the muscle spasm and relaxing the nerve root adhesion, while silver needle heat conductive treatment has effects on eliminating the aseptic inflammation of the soft tissues in or out of vertebral canal as well as improving the blood supply and relaxing the muscles. So the two therapies are complementary for treating CSCS patients.

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