OBJECTIVETo compare the effects of the three manipulative methods in treating vertebral artery type of cervical spondylosis.

METHODSFrom December 2006 to December 2008, 300 patients (male 138 and female 162, the age from 18 to 76 years with an average of 38.6 years) with vertebral artery type of cervical spondylosis were randomly divided into group A, B, C (100 cases each group). Patients in group A, B were respectively treated with rotation-traction and rotation-turn manual reduction (one time per week, 30 min per time, 4 times a course of treatment; patients in group C were treated with traction (one time per day, 30 min per time, 10 times a course of treatment). Therapic time was a course of treatment in all groups. At 6 months after treatment, the clinical effects, cervical curvature, change of blood flow were respectively observed according sympotoms, X-ray, transcranial doppler sonography (TCD).

RESULTSAll patients were followed up more than 6 months. The improving average of cervical curvature (C2-C7 Cobb angle): group A, B, C was respectively 1.82 +/- 0.88, 0.12 +/- 0.06, 0.56 +/- 0.22; group A was better than group B (P < 0.01) and group C (P < 0.05). There was no significantly difference between group B and C (P > 0.05);and there was significantly difference in three groups (P < 0.05). TCD detection: LVA, RVA, BA improving significantly in group A than group B (P < 0.01) and group C (P < 0.05); there was no significantly difference between group B and C (P > 0.05) and there was significantly difference among three groups (P < 0.05). Clinical effects: in group A, 36 cases obtained curing results, 36 excellent, 20 utility, 8 ineffective, the rate of excellent and good was 92%; in group B: 6 cases obtained curing results, 20 excellent, 10 utility, 64 ineffective, the rate of excellent and good was 36%;in group C,10 cases obtained curing results, 26 excellent, 8 utility, 56 ineffective, the rate of excellent and good was 44%; there was significantly difference in three groups (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAll three methods can significantly relieve headache and vertigo through improving cervical curvature and VA, BA blood flow, but its long-term effect should be observed.