Cervical traction is one of the most common methods of treating neck and arm pain, but its effects are poorly understood. This study tested the hypothesis, firstly, that mechanical traction is effective in relieving clinical symptoms and, as a secondary part of a study described elsewhere, that the mechanism may be a reduction in muscle tension. One hundred patients with neck and arm pain were randomly allocated to one of two treatment groups: (1) weighted cervical traction (6 to 15 lbs) applied according to a technique commonly used by physiotherapists; (2) placebo traction, applied in exactly the same way, but producing a force of not more than 1 lb on the head. Both groups were given neck-care education. The weighted group tended to improve slightly more than the placebo group on measures of pain, sleep disturbance, social dysfunction, ADL and range of movement at the neck. No significant post-treatment differences were found between the two treatment groups except on flexion and right-side flexion.

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