The effect of stabilization exercise training on pain and functional status in patients with cervical radiculopathy.

Abstract

There is no consensus about treatment of neck patients who have radicular symptoms. The purpose of the study was to investigate the effect of stabilization exercise training on pain and functional status in patients with cervical radiculopathy. The patients (n= 32) with cervical radiculopathy were randomized to two groups as follows: Stabilization exercise group (Group 1; n= 18); Home-exercise group (Group 2; n= 16). The patients were evaluated with visual analog scale, Neck Disability Index, SF-36 (Short-Form), Corbin postural assessment scale and hand grip at baseline, after treatment at 4th week and 3rd month. At baseline, there were no statistically differences between groups in terms of evaluated parameters (p> 0.05). After treatment and three months later, pain and Neck Disability Index decreased; Corbin postural scores, hand grip and SF-36 scores improved statistically in both groups (p< 0.05). Changes of the measurements in both groups were similar and there were no significant differences between group 1 and group 2 at 4th week and 3rd month (p> 0.05) except postural scores. This study demonstrates that stabilization exercise training could be an effective intervention for decreasing pain and improving quality of life and posture in patients with cervical radiculopathy.