{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,4]],"date-time":"2026-08-04T16:22:36Z","timestamp":1785860556317,"version":"3.56.0"},"reference-count":22,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"5","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,4,29]],"date-time":"2025-04-29T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1745884800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Life"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background: Cervical radiculopathy is one of the frequent musculoskeletal problems prevalent in the general population, characterized by neck pain radiating to the upper limb. This study investigated the effects of the myokinetic stretching technique versus post-isometric relaxation (PIR) exercises with mechanical traction in patients with cervical radiculopathy. Methods: A single-blinded, randomized clinical trial was conducted from March 2023 to June 2023. Sixty-six patients with cervical radiculopathy were randomly assigned to two groups: Group A (n = 33) received myokinetic stretching exercises and Group B (n = 33) received isometric relaxation exercises, while mechanical cervical traction was applied to both groups as the baseline treatment. The treatment frequency was two sessions per week for eight weeks. Outcome measures were pain, range of motion, and neck disability measured through the Numerical Pain Rating Scale, a goniometer, and the Urdu version of the Neck Disability Index. Assessments were performed at the baseline and the 4th and 8th weeks of the treatment. Results: The between-group analysis showed a non-significant difference (p &gt; 0.05). The within-group analysis showed (p &lt; 0.001) significant improvement in both groups. Conclusion: This study concluded that the myokinetic stretching technique and post-isometric relaxation exercises combined with mechanical traction are effective in improving pain, range of motion, and neck disability in patients with cervical radiculopathy.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/life15050721","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,5,4]],"date-time":"2025-05-04T20:42:37Z","timestamp":1746391357000},"page":"721","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":2,"title":["Myokinetic Stretching Exercise Versus Post-Isometric Relaxation Combined with Traction in Patients with Cervical Radiculopathy\u2014A Randomized Clinical Trial"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"15","author":[{"given":"Fatima","family":"Saleem","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Physical Therapy, Riphah International University, Faisalabad 38000, Pakistan"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Maryam","family":"Arshad","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Physical Therapy, Riphah International University, Faisalabad 38000, Pakistan"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Sahreen","family":"Anwar","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"University Institute of Physical Therapy, University of Lahore, Lahore 54590, Pakistan"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8145-8328","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Elena Adelina","family":"Panaet","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Physical and Occupational Therapy, \u201cVasile Alecsandri\u201d University of Bac\u0103u, 600115 Bac\u0103u, Romania"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6740-1867","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Drago\u0219 Ioan","family":"Toh\u0103nean","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Physical Education and Mountain Sports, Transilvania University of Bra\u0219ov, 500036 Bra\u0219ov, Romania"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-7424-7741","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Cristina-Ioana","family":"Alexe","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Physical Education and Sports Performance, \u201cVasile Alecsandri\u201d University of Bac\u0103u, 600115 Bac\u0103u, Romania"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6396-761X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Dan Iulian","family":"Alexe","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Physical and Occupational Therapy, \u201cVasile Alecsandri\u201d University of Bac\u0103u, 600115 Bac\u0103u, Romania"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,4,29]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Kazeminasab, S., Nejadghaderi, S.A., Amiri, P., Pourfathi, H., Araj-Khodaei, M., Sullman, M.J.M., Kolahi, A.-A., and Safiri, S. 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