Efficacy of neck muscle activation versus strengthening for adults with chronic cervical radiculopathy: a study protocol for a randomised clinical trial

Abstract

IntroductionChronic cervical radiculopathy is a common condition characterised by neck and arm pain, numbness and weakness. Both neck muscle activation and strengthening exercises are widely recognised treatments for cervical radiculopathy, but there is a research gap on the efficacy of neck muscle activation versus strengthening. This protocol will determine the efficacy of neck muscle activation alongside conventional care versus strengthening exercise and conventional care for cervical radiculopathy.Methods and analysisWe planned a 5-week parallel, two-arm randomised clinical trial on 80 participants with chronic cervical radiculopathy (lasting over 3 months) between July and December 2023. Participants will be recruited from Dhaka’s Agrani Specialised Physiotherapy Centre in Bangladesh and randomly assigned to two groups in a 1:1 ratio. Both groups will receive 14 sessions, each lasting 30–45 min. Post-treatment evaluations will be employed on Brief Pain Inventory (BPI), range of motion, craniovertebral angle (CVA), strength, endurance and Neck Disability Index (NDI) after 5 weeks and follow-up after 12 weeks of post-test analysis. Primary outcomes (strength, endurance and CVA) will be measured using a handheld dynamometer, digital inclinometer and goniometer. Secondary outcomes (pain, range of motion and disability) will be assessed through the BPI scale, digital inclinometer and NDI.Ethics and disseminationThe Institute of Physiotherapy Rehabilitation and Research of Bangladesh Physiotherapy Association has approved the study. All participants will provide informed consent, and data will be anonymised and accessible only to authorised personnel. The study’s findings will be disseminated in peer-reviewed journals and conferences.Clinical trial registry IndiaCTRI/2023/09/057587 (13/09/2023)