Physiotherapy for cervical radiculopathy
What is Pinched Nerve (Neck)?
Pinched nerve in the neck, also known as nerve root cervical radiculopathy, is a pain shooting from neck to shoulder and arms. The nerve root which travel out of the intervertebral foramina and join to form nerves to supply body may be irritated, impingement, compressed or injury.
What causes Pinched nerve at Neck (Cervical Radiculopathy)?
The most common cause of radiculopathy is a disc problem such as degenerated disc, slipped disc, narrowed disc. Other causes:
- osteophytes (bone spur) impinging on the nerve root in a degenerated spine.
- neck arthritis or cervical spondylosis (‘wear and tear’)
- age related
- acute injury
What are the symptoms of Pinched nerve at Neck (Cervical Radiculopathy)?
- Dull aching pain in the neck
- Neck muscle spasm
- Shooting pain in the shoulder, arm
- Tingling and numbness in the arm., hands, or fingers
- If there is severe compression there might be a weakness in muscles being supplied by that root.
Physiotherapy Treatments for Pinched nerve at Neck (Cervical Radiculopathy)?
The treatment for cervical radiculopathy will depend on the stage of the disease. If there is a neurologic deficit or debilitating, surgery might be required to decompress the nerve root. However in most cases, physiotherapy is the main treatment solution that can help.
At Physioclinic, our physiotherapist will need to assess and physical examination on your neck pain condition to find out the root cause of pain. Physiotherapy may include:
- Pain Relief /Tissue healing Treatments: TENS, Interferential Therapy, Ultrasound therapy, Heat therapy
- Manual therapy: joint mobilisation/manipulation to align neck structures and improve mobility of the spine.
- Massage: to reduce neck muscle spasm.
- Neural tissue mobilization: to mobilise nerve
- Neck core exercises
- Scapular stabilizing exercises
