An impinged nerve in your neck causes pain in your neck, upper back and radiating down your arm. Physical therapy can help, according to a study published in the "Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy" in 2005. Eleven patients with cervical radiculopathy were treated using manual therapy, traction and strengthening exercises for seven therapy sessions. At the end of the study, 10 out of 11 patients reported feeling less symptomatic.
Goals
Working with a physical therapist can help you understand and manage your disorder. Goals of physical therapy include improving pain and symptoms. Therapy should also help improve the flexibility and strength of your neck. Because physical therapy is not a permanent intervention, patient education is also important. Your therapist will also teach you how to mange your symptoms and improve your lifestyle to prevent recurrences. Part of an impinged nerve in the neck is also radiculopathy. This is pain that radiates down your arm. Physical therapy should also improve radicular pain.
Traction
Traction is generally a part of therapy for cervical nerve impingement, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Traction involves pulling on your head and neck to relieve the pressure from the neck joints. Traction usually involves a special machine that uses weights and pulleys to apply a pulling force on the joint.
Retraction and Posture
Another part of physical therapy is training on correct posture. Improving your posture by sitting up releases undue pressure on the neck joints, which can improve radiculopathy. Patients should also be taught cervical retraction. This is an exercise that will help to improve posture and reduce pain. To practice self cervical retraction, bring the chin down into the neck and force your head back as far as it will go. This position allows the affected vertebrae to move forward and thus relieve the pain on the pinched nerve.
Strengthening
Gaining strength in the serratus anterior, trapezius, rhomboids and latissimus dorsi muscles can help to stabilize the neck. An effective exercise for this that is also easy on the neck is the seated high back row. To perform this exercise, sit on the ground or a chair with your lower body fully supported. Use a resistance band, with one end in each hand and the middle secure around an immovable object. Keep your back fully straight, your shoulders pulled back and your neck relaxed. Your arms should be extended out in front of you at shoulder height. Slowly move the arms back behind you by bending your elbows. Hold for a second, then return to the starting position and repeat. Work up to one to three sets of 10 to 15 repetitions.
References
- "Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy"; Manual Physical Therapy, Cervical Traction, and Strengthening Exercises in Patients with Cervical Radiculopathy: A Case Series; Julie M. Whitman, et al.; December 2005
- Cleveland Clinic: What Can Physical Therapy Do for Your Back and Neck Pain?
- American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons; Cervical Radiculopathy; February 2010
- MedlinePlus; Traction; David C. Dugdale, III, M.D.; August 2009
- Prolotherapy.org; Physical Therapy Approach to Cervical Radiculopathy; Chris Ferrigno, M.S., P.T.
- American Council on Exercise: Seated High Back Row
