Ba-Duan-Jin Training Versus NASM Approach

Overview

Cervical spondylotic radiculopathy (CSR) is now becoming one of the most common public health concerns in the world. The objective of the current study is to compare the effects of Ba Duan Jin with the National Academy of Sports Medicine-based exercise protocol on pain, range of motion, and disability in patients with CSR. The study was a single-blinded randomized clinical trial, was conducted in the Physiotherapy departments of Arif Memorial Teaching Hospital, Hameed Latif Hospital, and Shalamar Hospital in Lahore, Pakistan. Two groups of (no of) patients with cervical spondylotic radiculopathy, aged 20-55, were formed through random allocation: Group A received routine physical therapy + Ba Duan Jin, while Group B received routine physical therapy + NASM-based exercises, with three sessions per week for 6 weeks. To evaluate the treatment protocols' long-term effects, data were gathered at baseline and at 6-week follow-ups. The study employed three outcome measures: Numeric Pain Rating scale (pain), Neck Disability index (disability), and Goniometer (cervical range of motion). Data analysis was performed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 25. Results of present study showed that after 6-weeks of NASM approach to group B with value of 2.00 for pain and 4.00 for disability, there was a significantly great pain and disability reduction, by assessing with NPRS and NDI with value of compared to group A with value of with value of 3.00 for pain and 12.00 for disability. While both interventions yielded comparable improvements in range of motion among CSR patients. Both Ba Duan Jin and NASM approaches demonstrated efficacy, with the NASM approach showing more pronounced benefits in pain and disability reduction, whereas both interventions had similar effects on range of motion among patients.