Effects of traction therapy on atlantoaxial joint dislocation-induced cervical vertigo

Cervical vertigo is a common complication of atlantoaxial joint dislocation. However, there is no consensus on the effects of different therapies on the recovery of the patients suffering cervical vertigo. The objective of this randomized controlled trial was to investigate the effect of traction therapy on reducing cervical vertigo induced by atlantoaxial joint dislocation. A total of 96 patients were randomized to receive traction therapy or traditional therapy for two weeks. The overall clinical efficacy was measured based on the 30-point cervical vertigo symptom and function evaluation form. The therapeutic effects were also evaluated based on lateral atlantodental space (LADS), vertigo scale, neck and shoulder pain scale, headache scale, daily life and work scale, psychosocial adaptation scale, and quality of life. Compared with the traditional therapy group, the traction group demonstrated markedly higher overall clinical efficacy (P=0.038). Both the traction therapy group and the traditional therapy group showed significant decrease in LADS (P<0.001), but the traction therapy group had a greater reduction of LAD compared with the traditional group (P<0.01). Traction therapy consistently led to significantly greater relief of cervical vertigo symptoms, including dizziness, neck and shoulder pain, headache, inconvenience in daily living and work activities, impaired psychosocial adaptation, while improving quality of life. The efficacy of traction therapy for cervical vertigo surpasses that of traditional therapy, suggesting that traction therapy is potentially more clinically useful in treating these patients.

Tonic Investigation Concept of Cervico-vestibular Muscle Afferents

Abstract Introduction Interdisciplinary research has contributed greatly to an improved understanding of the vestibular system. To date, however, very little research has focused on the vestibular system's somatosensory afferents. To ensure the diagnostic quality of vestibular somatosensory afferent data, especially the extra cranial afferents, stimulation of the vestibular balance system has to be precluded. Objective Sophisticated movements require intra- and extra cranial vestibular receptors. The study's objective is to evaluate an investigation concept for cervico-vestibular afferents with respect to clinical feasibility. Methods A dedicated chair was constructed, permitting three-dimensional trunk excursions, during which the volunteer's head remains fixed. Whether or not a cervicotonic provocation nystagmus (c-PN) can be induced with static trunk excursion is to be evaluated and if this can be influenced by cervical monophasic transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (c-TENS) with a randomized test group. 3D-video-oculography (VOG) was used to record any change in cervico-ocular examination parameters. The occurring nystagmuses were evaluated visually due to the small caliber of nystagmus amplitudes in healthy volunteers. Results The results demonstrate: no influence of placebo-controlled c-TENS on the spontaneous nystagmus; a significant increase of the vertical nystagmus on the 3Dtrunk- excursion chair in static trunk flexion with cervical provocation in all young healthy volunteers (n = 49); and a significant difference between vertical and horizontal nystagmuses during static trunk excursion after placebo-controlled c-TENS, except for the horizontal nystagmus during trunk torsion. Conclusion We hope this cervicotonic investigation concept on the 3D trunk-excursion chair will contribute to new diagnostic and therapeutic perspectives on cervical pathologies in vestibular head-to-trunk alignment.

Tonic Investigation Concept of Cervico-vestibular Muscle Afferents.

Introduction Interdisciplinary research has contributed greatly to an improved understanding of the vestibular system. To date, however, very little research has focused on the vestibular system's somatosensory afferents. To ensure the diagnostic quality of vestibular somatosensory afferent data, especially the extra cranial afferents, stimulation of the vestibular balance system has to be precluded. Objective Sophisticated movements require intra- and extra cranial vestibular receptors. The study's objective is to evaluate an investigation concept for cervico-vestibular afferents with respect to clinical feasibility. Methods A dedicated chair was constructed, permitting three-dimensional trunk excursions, during which the volunteer's head remains fixed. Whether or not a cervicotonic provocation nystagmus (c-PN) can be induced with static trunk excursion is to be evaluated and if this can be influenced by cervical monophasic transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (c-TENS) with a randomized test group. 3D-video-oculography (VOG) was used to record any change in cervico-ocular examination parameters. The occurring nystagmuses were evaluated visually due to the small caliber of nystagmus amplitudes in healthy volunteers. Results The results demonstrate: no influence of placebo-controlled c-TENS on the spontaneous nystagmus; a significant increase of the vertical nystagmus on the 3D-trunk-excursion chair in static trunk flexion with cervical provocation in all young healthy volunteers (n = 49); and a significant difference between vertical and horizontal nystagmuses during static trunk excursion after placebo-controlled c-TENS, except for the horizontal nystagmus during trunk torsion. Conclusion We hope this cervicotonic investigation concept on the 3D trunk-excursion chair will contribute to new diagnostic and therapeutic perspectives on cervical pathologies in vestibular head-to-trunk alignment.