Table 2 Changes in the clinical outcome measures including NDI, VAS scores, cervical ROM, and CSAs from the baseline

NDI (%)

 Baseline^a

35.45

34.68

NA

NA

 3-month follow-up

− 5.33

− 6.56

− 1.23 (− 8.13 to 5.67)

0.187

 6-month follow-up

− 8.32

− 12.04

− 3.72 (− 12.13 to 4.69)

0.166

 12-month follow-up

− 12.69

− 19.25

− 6.56 (− 11.97 to − 1.15)

0.022^*

VAS

 Baseline^a

5.54

5.31

NA

NA

 3-month follow-up

− 1.28

− 1.21

0.07 (− 0.68 to 0.82)

0.281

 6-month follow-up

− 2.13

− 2.45

− 0.32 −  1.23 to 0.59)

0.098

 12-month follow-up

− 2.89

− 3.32

− 0.43 (− 0.82 to − 0.04)

0.035^*

ROM

Rotation

 Baseline^a

53.16

55.08

NA

NA

 3-month follow-up

5.43

6.17

0.74 (− 1.13 to 2.61)

0.165

 6-month follow-up

18.51

27.29

8.78 (2.05 to 15.51)

0.021^*

 12-month follow-up

29.00

37.41

8.41 (1.74 to 15.08)

0.039^*

Side-bending

 Baseline^a

65.08

63.82

NA

NA

 3-month follow-up

5.09

7.61

2.52 (− 1.33 to 6.37)

0.166

 6-month follow-up

11.39

18.82

7.43 (1.26 to 13.60)

0.031^*

 12-month follow-up

18.72

26.20

7.48 (1.56 to 13.40)

0.029^*

Extension-flexion (degrees)

 Baseline^a

13.62

15.12

NA

 3-month follow-up

2.65

5.21

2.56 (− 0.85 to 5.97)

0.102

 6-month follow-up

4.03

7.56

3.53 (0.86 to 6.20)

0.047^*

 12-month follow-up

4.96

9.71

4.75 (1.41 to 8.09)

0.038^*

Total CSA of extensors (mm²)

 Baseline^a

622.63

635.06

NA

NA

 3-month follow-up

3.26

51.53

48.27 (16.73 to 79.81)

0.033^*

 6-month follow-up

4.23

76.36

72.31 (11.21 to 133.04)

0.021^*

 12-month follow-up

4.57

97.76

93.19 (17.29 to 169.09)

0.001^*