Comparison of mulligan sustained natural apophyseal glides and maitland mobilizations for treatment of cervicogenic dizziness: a randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Background: There is short-term evidence for treatment of cervicogenic dizziness with Mulligan sustained natural apophyseal glides (SNAGs) but no evidence for treatment with Maitland mobilizations.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of SNAGs and Maitland mobilizations for cervicogenic dizziness.

Design: A double-blind, parallel-arm randomized controlled trial was conducted.

Setting: The study was conducted at a university in Newcastle, Australia.

Participants: Eighty-six people with cervicogenic dizziness were the study participants.

Interventions: Included participants were randomly allocated to receive 1 of 3 interventions: Mulligan SNAGs (including self-administered SNAGs), Maitland mobilizations plus range-of-motion exercises, or placebo.

Measurements: The primary outcome measure was intensity of dizziness. Other outcome measures were: frequency of dizziness, the Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI), intensity of pain, and global perceived effect (GPE).

Results: Both manual therapy groups had reduced dizziness intensity and frequency posttreatment and at 12 weeks compared with baseline. There was no change in the placebo group. Both manual therapy groups had less dizziness intensity posttreatment (SNAGs: mean difference=-20.7, 95% confidence interval [95% CI]=-33.6, -7.7; mobilizations: mean difference=-15.2, 95% CI=-27.9, -2.4) and at 12 weeks (SNAGs: mean difference=-18.4, 95% CI=-31.3, -5.4; mobilizations: mean difference=-14.4, 95% CI=-27.4, -1.5) compared with the placebo group. Compared with the placebo group, both the SNAG and Maitland mobilization groups had less frequency of dizziness at 12 weeks. There were no differences between the 2 manual therapy interventions for these dizziness measures. For DHI and pain, all 3 groups improved posttreatment and at 12 weeks. Both manual therapy groups reported a higher GPE compared with the placebo group. There were no treatment-related adverse effects lasting longer than 24 hours.

Limitations: The therapist performing the interventions was not blind to group allocation.

Conclusions: Both SNAGs and Maitland mobilizations provide comparable immediate and sustained (12 weeks) reductions in intensity and frequency of chronic cervicogenic dizziness.