, vol. 22, issue 2, pp. 199-205, 2014.
Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of continuous ultrasound [US] compared with placebo
US combined with conventional physiotherapy program for patients with cervical spondylosis.
Methods: This was a randomized placebo-controlled trial. Patients, diagnosed with cervical spondylosis, were randomly
assigned to one of two groups in an orthopedic physical therapy clinic: a group that received electrotherapy, exercise,
hot packs, and therapeutic US [True US group] and a group that received electrotherapy, exercise, hot packs, and sham
US [Sham US group]. Patients were treated, on average, three times per week for 4 weeks. Outcome measurements were
collected at baseline and after 4 weeks using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale, Patient-Specific Functional Scale, and Neck
Disability Index.
Results: Analysis of variance showed that both groups had improved regarding Numeric Pain Rating Scale, PatientSpecific
Functional Scale, and Neck Disability Index [p50.05]. There was no significant difference between both groups
for pretest and post-test values [p40.05] for all measures.
Conclusions: The addition of US to conventional physiotherapy program of electrotherapy, exercise, and hot packs
yields no additional benefit to neck pain, function, or disability in patients with cervical spondylosis.