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The Effect of Stretching on Cervical Radiculopathy

Because nerves have roots near a person's spinal cord, a problem in the neck can lead to pain in other parts of his body. One example of this is cervical radiculopathy. This condition can be helped by a variety of nonsurgical treatments, including stretching out muscles to relieve pain.

  1. Cervical Radiculopathy

    • Cervical radiculopathy, or a pinched nerve, is a medical term that describes a certain kind of pain felt in a person's shoulder. It is usually caused when part of the spine puts pressure on the root of a nerve near the spine. This usually occurs in older adults who have lost water content in their intervertebral disks due to aging. The smaller, stiffer disks make it more likely vertebrae will rub together and cause problems like pinched nerves.

    Symptoms

    • The pain of cervical radiculopathy begins in the neck. It then travels down a person's shoulder and arm. The pain occurs suddenly and is quite sharp. Other symptoms include sensations of numbness or of pins and needles in the arm. The pain can be made worse by stretching or straining the neck. It can often be eased by carefully stretching out the shoulder of the affected arm, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.

    Diagnosis

    • A doctor diagnosing cervical radiculopathy in a patient might order imaging tests—such as X-rays, CT scans or MRIs—of the neck. These will allow the doctor to see any narrowing of space between vertebrae or spot any bone spurs that have formed. The doctor might also ask the patient to stretch his neck or his shoulder while she watches, so she can see how different movements affect his pain.

    Treatments

    • Most people benefit from nonsurgical treatments for cervical radiculopathy. Wearing a soft collar will limit how much a person can move and stretch the neck, reducing the chance that movements will cause pain. Physical therapy involving stretching and strengthening the neck muscles in specific ways can reduce pain. These treatments can be combined with anti-inflammatory medication.

    Considerations

    • With stretching and other forms of physical therapy, the pain of cervical radiculopathy can fade in a matter of days or weeks. If the symptoms return often or if the pain does not ease, surgical options might be required. These options include cervical disk removal, fusion of the vertebrae, and the insertion of an artificial disk. After these surgeries, physical therapy and stretching play an important role in helping a person recover.

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