The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of traction and decompression therapies on the cervical muscle tone and disc height. The decompression group (n=16) received decompression therapy and Mckenzie exercises once a day and four times a week respectively, for three weeks. The traction group (n=15) also received traction therapy and Mckenzie exercises for the same period. Muscle tone was measured with a myotonometer, and the disk height was measured using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), before the interventions. Three weeks later, we investigated the therapeutic effect by repeating these measurements. The difference in disk height between the two groups was not significant. There was a significant difference in the disk herniation index (p<.05). A significant difference was found only in the upper trapezius muscle after comparison of muscle tone and stiffness between the groups (p<.05). Findings from this study suggest that the decompression therapy is a more effective intervention for patients with cervical intervertebral disc herniation.

INTRODUCTION
 SUBJECTS AND METHODS
  Subjects
  Methods
  Measuring equipment and methods
  Analysis
 RESULTS
  A Comparison of Changes of Disc Height andHerniation Index between Groups
  A Comparison of Change of Muscle Tone betweenGroups
 DISCUSSION
 CONCLUSION
 REFERENCES

• Jeong il Kang(Sehan University)
• Dae Keun Jeong(Sehan University)
• Hyun Choi(Mokpo Mirae Hospital)