Blog by Meghan Riccardi, SPT
The Cervical Region
Within the cervical region there are 7 vertebrae and 8 pairs of cervical nerve roots, numbered C1 through C8. The cervical nerve roots branch off of your spinal cord (which is encased in your spine) through an exit point in between each vertebrae, called the intervertebral foramen. These cervical nerves provide sensation and motor control to the shoulders, arms, hands, and fingers.
What is Cervical Radiculopathy?
Cervical radiculopathy is an irritation or inflammation of a cervical nerve from its exit point in the spine, the intervertebral foramen. Common symptoms of cervical radiculopathy may include pain, numbness, or weakness in different areas of the arm or hand. Some common conditions that can cause cervical radiculopathy include cervical disc herniation (herniated disc in the neck), cervical spondylosis (arthritis of the neck) and spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spaces within your spine).
Risk factors
- Men are slightly more affected than women
- Poor posture
- Obesity
- Smoking
- Lifting heavy objects
- Operating vibrating equipment
- Neck trauma
- Previous spinal nerve injury
Signs and symptoms
- Paresthesias (numbness/tingling)
- Muscle tightness in neck
- Decreased neck ROM
- Decreased shoulder ROM
- Weakness in the neck, shoulder, arm, or hand
- Pain in the neck, shoulder, arm, or hand
- Decreased sensation in the neck, shoulder, arm, or hand
Treatment of Cervical Radiculopathy With Physical Therapy
How can physical therapy help? Treatments may include:
Manual Therapy: The clinician will perform hands-on techniques which can address mobility deficits, trigger points, and muscle tightness within the cervical spine and the surrounding musculature. Some manual therapy techniques may include manual traction, soft tissue mobilization, trigger point release, and cupping.
Decreasing Pain: This is patient specific and will depend on what personally alleviates their pain, however there are numerous modalities that can be used to reduce pain such as; heat, ice, electrical stimulation, postural adjustments, etc.
Muscle Strengthening: Weakness in muscles throughout the chest/back/neck/shoulder can cause abnormal posture and patterns. A safe and individualized exercise program will be prescribed to strengthen weak muscles and therefore reinforce proper posture and patterns that can help improve symptoms.
Postural Training: The clinician will educate the patient on proper posture. The clinician will help the patient to determine how they can make ergonomic adjustments to achieve proper posture throughout the day.
Visit our blog to learn more about back pain, cervicogenic headache or cervical radiculopathy physical therapy treatment. You can make an appointment at any of our NY Capital Region clinics by calling 518-289-5242.
