Background: Cervical spondylosis (CS) is a degenerative disorder of the intervertebral discs, most commonly affecting the C5–C7 levels. It frequently leads to neck pain, non-traumatic myelopathy, and neurological impairments such as paraparesis and quadriparesis. The prevalence of CS is estimated at 25% in adults under 40 years and up to 60% in those over 40 years, with neck pain incidence ranging widely from 0.4% to 86.8%. Physiotherapeutic interventions such as traction and stretching aim to reduce pain, enhance range of motion (ROM), and improve functional performance.

Objective: To compare the effectiveness of self-traction versus self-stretching, when combined with conventional physiotherapy interventions, on pain, ROM, and functional performance in patients with cervical spondylosis.

Methods: Forty-six patients with CS aged 30–60 years were randomly assigned into two groups: Group A (n=23) received self-traction with conventional physiotherapy, while Group B (n=23) received self-stretching with conventional physiotherapy. Outcomes including pain intensity (VAS), cervical ROM, and functional performance (Neck Disability Index, NDI) were assessed at baseline and after 4 weeks of intervention. Statistical analyses included parametric and non-parametric tests depending on data normality, with significance set at p≤0.05.

Results: Both groups demonstrated significant improvements in pain, cervical ROM, and functional performance after 4 weeks (p<0.05). Between-group comparisons revealed that self-traction combined with conventional physiotherapy was significantly more effective than self-stretching in reducing pain, improving ROM, and enhancing functional outcomes.

Conclusion: Both self-traction and self-stretching are beneficial adjuncts to conventional physiotherapy in the management of cervical spondylosis. However, self-traction yields superior improvements in pain relief, cervical mobility, and functional performance, and may be recommended as a preferred clinical intervention.