Efectividad de la terapia manual en el tratamiento de pacientes con cervicalgia mecánica

Résumé

This article aims to compile the available scientific information about the effectiveness of manual therapy (TM) used in the treatment of patients with mechanical neck pain. A literature search has been carried out. Six bibliographical reviews and recent clinical trials have been found. In general, the different TM techniques commonly used in the treatment of mechanical cervicalgia have not been sufficiently studied to assess the effectiveness of these, mainly used exclusively. There is scientific evidence about the short-term effectiveness of TM combined with other treatments (conventional medical treatment, exercise health education). It has been estimated that the combined TM achieves a decrease in pain intensity of 12.6 mm, measured according to the analogue-visual scale (100 mm). It seems that, in the long term, patients with acute cervicalgias benefit more from the use of mobilization and manipulative techniques than those who have chronic symptoms, who obtain greater relief with non-manual physiotherapies. The most suitable TM to be used with acute patients seems to be the mobilizations, especially in the initial phase, being the manipulations more useful in later phases. It is necessary to develop more and better clinical trials that study the effectiveness of TM in patients with mechanical neck pain, especially in the medium and long term. Future researchers should pay special attention to the quality of the design and execution of their studies.