File
J. Svensson1,2, A. Peolsson1, A. Hermansen1, J.J. Cross3, A. Abbott1, J.A. Cleland4, M. Kierkegaard5,6,7, M. Halvorsen5,6, Å. Dedering5,6
1Linköping University, Department of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences, Physiotherapy, Linköping, Sweden, 2Linköping University Hospital, Department of Neurosurgery, Linköping, Sweden, 3Bond University, Gold Coast, Australia, 4Doctor of Physical Therapy Program, Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, School of Medicine, Boston, United States, 5Karolinska Institutet, Division of Physiotherapy, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Stockholm, Sweden, 6Karolinska University Hospital, Department of Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy, Allied Health Professionals Function, Stockholm, Sweden, 7Academic Specialist Center, Stockholm Health Services, Region Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden
Background: Cervical radiculopathy is commonly characterized by pain, sensory disturbance, and weakness in the dermatomes and myotomes of the affected nerve root and moderate levels of disability. Cervical radiculopathy may also lead to dizziness and headache. The effect of physiotherapy on individuals with dizziness and headache for patient with cervical radiculopathy due to MRI-verified disc disease is unknown.
Purpose: To evaluate the effect of neck-specific training compared to prescribed physical activity on dizziness and headache in patients with cervical radiculopathy.
Methods: Sub-group analyses of a prospective randomized clinical trial. Patients with MRI-verified cervical radiculopathy and dizziness or headache were included. Patients were randomized to either neck-specific training or prescribed physical activity. Outcome measures were Dizziness Handicap Inventory and headache intensity measured with visual analogue scale (100mm). Data was collected at baseline and follow-ups after intervention.
Results: Disability due to dizziness and headache intensity significantly changed from baseline to one-year follow-up (p < 0.05) in both groups. No significant between-group differences were found (p > 0.05). No harms have been reported.
Conclusion(s): There was a significant reduction in disability due to dizziness and headache intensity at one-year follow-up in patients with cervical radiculopathy and dizziness or headache, but there were no differences between groups. Both neck-specific training and prescribed physical activity can be used to reduce dizziness and headache for patients with cervical radiculopathy.
Implications: As no harms have been reported, we know that both neck-specific training and prescribed physical activity are safe to use in the clinical work. However, both interventions have the same effect on dizziness and headache, indicating that we can use the intervention that best suits the unique patient.
Funding, acknowledgements: Swedish Government/Karolinska Institutet. The Swedish National School of Research Education in Health Care Sciences. Strategic Research Program in Care Sciences
Keywords: Cervical radiculopathy, Neck-specific training, Prescribed physical activity
Topic: Musculoskeletal: spine
Did this work require ethics approval? Yes
Institution: Karolinska Institutet
Committee: Regional Board of Ethics in Stockholm
Ethics number: Dnr 2009/1756-31/4
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
