skip navigation
Welcome! Orthopedics Resources Neurology Resources #PTDOS Physical Therapy Pulse Contributors Store

Cervical Radiculopathy

Cervical Radiculopathy Protocol-Brigham and Women's Hospital

Acute Phase:

Goals: Reduce pain and inflammation, improve postural awareness, adjustment of body mechanics and ergonomics, increase cervical PROM and AROM

  • Reduce pain and inflammation through modalities (ice, TENS, IFC, heat, ultrasound)
  • Soft tissue mobilization to address cervical mm spasms, tension, and tenderness
  • Cervical and thoracic joint mobilizations (grades I and II for pain modulation and III and IV for increasing joint mobility)
  • Postural education
  • Stretching and postural mm strengthening as appropriate

Subacute/Chronic Phase:

  • Continue to progress cervical AROM/PROM as pain and mm tension, tenderness, and flexibility improve 
  • Progress with postural mm strengthening 

Resources

Standard of Care: Cervical Radiculopathy. Brigham and Women's Hospital Web site. http://www.brighamandwomens.org/Patients_Visitors/pcs/rehabilitationservices/Physical%20Therapy%20Standards%20of%20Care%20and%20Protocols/C-spine%20-%20Cervical%20radiculopathy.pdf.