Neck Pain

Exercise Only, Exercise With Mechanical Traction, or Exercise With Over-Door Traction for Patients With Cervical Radiculopathy, With or Without Consideration of Status on a Previously Described Subgrouping Rule: A Randomized Clinical Trial

“…18,19,40 Despite a lack of evidence, traction appears to be a common intervention provided by physical therapists, particularly for patients with neck pain accompanied by signs of radiculopathy. 8,16,17 Most studies examining the effectiveness of traction, however, have included patients with nonspecific neck pain and generally have not supported the intervention. 3,10,31,49 The few previous studies examining only patients with radiculopathy have produced mixed results.…”

“…Observational studies and practice guidelines suggest that traction may be most effective in the subgroup of patients with neck pain who exhibit signs of cervical radiculopathy. 6,8,9,16 Raney and colleagues 34 identified even more-specific criteria associated with clinical benefit from treatment that includes cervical traction. Five clinical factors were predictive of benefit: (1) peripheralization of symptoms with lower cervical mobility testing, (2) positive shoulder abduction sign, (3) positive manual distraction test, (4) positive upper-limb tension test, and (5) age of 55 years or older.…”

Lower Trapezius Muscle Strength in Individuals With Unilateral Neck Pain

“…This may help identify impairment and assist in patient classification into this ICF impairment-based category of neck pain with movement coordination impairments and the associated ICD-10 category of sprain and strain of the cervical spine. 5 Furthermore, the neck pain clinical practice guidelines recommend that clinicians consider strengthening, endurance, and coordination exercises as interventions for patients in the ICF impairment-based category of neck pain with movement coordination impairments and the associated ICD-10 category of sprain and strain of the cervical spine to reduce neck pain and headache. 5 As the current study did not include an Left-hand dominance 3…”

“…The findings of this study are also consistent with impairments described in the physical therapy Neck Pain Clinical Practice Guidelines, which are linked to The World Health Organization's International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) and the associated International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD-10). 5 These guidelines state that patients presenting clinically with coordination, strength, and endurance deficits of the neck and upper quarter muscles, including the lower trapezius, fit into the ICF impairment-based category of neck pain with movement coordination impairments and the associated ICD-10 category of sprain and strain of the cervical spine. 5 The findings of the current study support strength testing of the lower trapezius muscle in clinical examination of patients who present with neck pain.…”

“…5 These guidelines state that patients presenting clinically with coordination, strength, and endurance deficits of the neck and upper quarter muscles, including the lower trapezius, fit into the ICF impairment-based category of neck pain with movement coordination impairments and the associated ICD-10 category of sprain and strain of the cervical spine. 5 The findings of the current study support strength testing of the lower trapezius muscle in clinical examination of patients who present with neck pain. This may help identify impairment and assist in patient classification into this ICF impairment-based category of neck pain with movement coordination impairments and the associated ICD-10 category of sprain and strain of the cervical spine.…”