Manual Therapy, Traction, And Exercise For Patients With Cervical Radiculopathy

Additionally, a physical therapist may apply cold and heat packs and recommend deep-tissue massage to reduce neck pain. Your PT may have you work through your exercises while standing in front of a mirror to make you aware of maintaining good posture, another element that can benefit a cervical disc condition.

It has exhibited red flags that warranted me to evaluate further and seek referral. Though it is not frequent. I am always on my toes on the lookout for anything that I find suspicious in the pathological presentation during my initial touch point with the patient. Red flags can be determined and brought to light during history and physical examination, such as patient demographics, social and health habits, medical/surgical history, medications, family history, systems review, and review of systems, physical therapists have the examination data necessary to identify the need for medical referral (Ross and Boissonnault, 2010, p. 682). A detailed history assessment preceding trauma and cervical spine tenderness with notable limitation of motion prompt consideration for immediate immobilization, referral to a specialist, and further investigation utilizing diagnostic imaging. Red flags can be used as a tool to verify the diagnosis during evaluation. However, there are times that during initial imaging, patient doesn’t exhibit any signs of red flags. That is why it is therapist responsibility to take note of all the possible symptoms that might need urgent investigation to prevent further

Scharf utilized Diagnosis Related Estimate cervical category II and assigned an 8% Whole Person Impairment. Dr. Scharf noted the MRI study of the cervical spine right disc extrusion at C5-C6, but there are no verifiable radicular symptoms in light of the result of the EMG/NCV studies, despite the applicant’s subjective complaints of radicular symptoms into the bilateral upper extremities. Since there are no verifiable radicular symptoms, the placement into DRE category II seems appropriate.

Carey reported that she experienced occasional numbness of the upper extremities and that she would occasionally drop objects from both hands. Upon physical examination, Dr. Abiera noted that Ms. Carey’s range of motion of the cervical spine was decreased on flexion and tenderness on palpation of posterior cervical muscles with spasms and trigger points was present. In addition, Dr. Abiera noted that the range of motion of lumbar spine was within normal range, however there was still some tenderness on palpation of thoracic paraspinals muscles.

The patient was compliant to all aspects of treatment and the home exercise program. There are no known alternate explanations of the outcomes of this case report. However, in comparison to the case report by Caldwell et al25., the patient in this case report displayed a faster decrease in pain and return to normal function indicated by 0/10 VAS, 0% neck disability and ability to perform all tasks for work at the last day of treatment, 3 weeks from the first day of physical therapy. Possible explanations for the faster recovery could be due to the slight difference of impairments as well as the addition to grade IV and V manipulations to the cervical and thoracic spine as suggested to have high correlation with decrease in pain and normalization

cervical discectomy and fusion performed on 04/14/15. The latest progress report noted that the patient has neck pain, upper back pain, and shooting pain down the arms. The exam revealed that the DTRs were mildly diminished in the left upper extremity. The strength and sensation were mildly diminished in the left upper extremity as well. Spurling sign was also weakly positive on the left. It is noted that the patient has tried and failed conservative treatment, including medications and PT. However, review of the records revealed that the postop PT was put on hold due to his increased pain. In addition, the MRI Report showed that the disc space was normal and there was no significant disc herniation at the requested level i.e. C7-T1. The spinal canal and neural foramen are patent. In addition, EMG Report revealed that there was no evidence of peripheral nerve entrapment or underlying peripheral neuropathy on nerve conduction studies. Considering the minimal/mild physical examination findings and normal imaging and EDS testing; the medical necessity of C7-T1 cervical ESI has not been established. Recommend

DOI: 1/20/2007. Patient is a 44-year-old female home attendant who sustained injuries to her neck and back, and depression while transferring a client with only 1 leg from a bed to a wheelchair. Per OMNI, she underwent cervical fusion on 11/15/12. She is treating with medications, PT, ESI/blocks, cane, and psychotherapy.

She has increased endurance to walking and increased endurance to sitting and standing, which allows her to participate in more of her activities of daily living. She has increased range of motion of both the cervical and lumbosacral spine with increased strength. However, the physical examination continues to show a residual C5-C6 and L3-L4 radiculopathy of both the right upper and lower extremities, which has failed to completely resolve under present treatment

DOI: 8/6/2015. Patient is a 51-year-old female licensed vocational nurse who sustained a work-related injury to her back and hips while moving a client. As per OMNI, she was diagnosed with muscle spasm, pain over the low back and thoracic region. She is status post right carpal tunnel release on 02/26/16.

On 03/16/2017, the claimant presented with a constant low back pain, worse on the right side than the left, radiating into the left leg and left foot. She had needle EMG and nerve conduction velocity studies of the bilateral lower extremities to evaluate her lumbar radiculopathy. The studies showed findings compatible with mild bilateral L5 radiculopathies and a left S1 radiculopathy.

The patient, Miss Tedo, is a 69-year-old female with a diagnosis of cervical degenerative joint disease, also known as cervical osteoarthritis or neck arthritis. Miss Tedo complains that she has neck stiffness and pain rated as 6/10. Miss Tedo also reported that she has tingling and pain rated as 5/10 that radiates down the right arm to the little finger. Upon her visit to the clinic, Miss Tedo presented with limited cervical range of motion, 30o of rotation bilaterally and 10o of lateral flexion bilaterally. She exhibits moderate cervical paravertebral muscle hypertonus with a forward flexed posture and poor postural awareness.

2. Cervical manual traction: The chiropractor pulls the neck to stretch the cervical spine and to lessen the stiffness. It is often done in combination with adjustment.

The results of this study show that both treatment interventions are just as effective in pain reduction and increased spinal mobility following a single treatment. A post boc correlation (relationship between variables) analysis was performed in order to explore the relationship between changes in pain and lumbar extension motion. Researchers analyzed the relationship between an increase in motion and decrease in pain for this study.

The patient is suffering from severe neck pain. The TENS is being used to decrease the pain is feeling in the neck and upper shoulders. The patient has a decreased range of motion in the cervical spine. Self -mobilization, and self-stretches can help increase the range of motion in the cervical spine. The patient has weakness in the cervical muscles but pain is elicited with added resistance. Since the patient is in a pain, starting with isometric contraction of the muscles will help strengthen the muscle without movent, provoking pain. Isometrics contraction is a good way to promote contraction of the muscle tissues, with lengthening the muscle. Ther patient C6 vertebrae is rotated to the right, which may contribute to the hypomobility

Method of minimally invasive posterior cervical “key-hole” laminoforaminotomy decompression for cervical spondylotic radiculopathy is to build a working channel by expanding the tubular retractor to open the surrounding soft tissue, the system does not need specific endoscope equipment and steep learning curve of operating under the endoscope. The surgeons accomplish the vertebral plate excision, spinal canal decompression, removal of nucleus pulposus, and retain the kinetic segments of cervical vertebra using the working channel. There were some advantages for the approach, such as the safety was fine, slight trauma, being liable to master for beginner, satisfactory curative effect and so on. The approach obtained the satisfactory clinical effects in short periods, but the persistent follow-up observations are needed for the long term