Thank you for sharing your knowledge and views about this topic.
To answer your question: Physical therapy intervention was not mentioned in any of the articles above, do you think physical therapy intervention will help in improving cervical joints instability of those patients who were managed with a nonsurgical approach, and can PT exercises decrease the need for surgical later on?
Great question. From time to time, I am asked to cover the outpatient physical therapy clinic. Although low back pain related evaluations are common, I sporadically received a few consults from the internal medicine physician concerning “cervical joint dysfunction” or “cervical joint instability.” This diagnosis on occasion throws me off guard and provokes me to ask a question “Why do I have to see this patient with cervical instability?” and “Should this patient be referred to ortho first for activity guidelines?”.
As I …show more content…
Strengthening of the cervical and paraspinal muscles is an important part of rehabilitation, not to mention, ergonomic evaluation and postural awareness exercises can all aid in reducing cervical discomfort and maintaining the cervical joint (Diab & Moustafa, 2012, p. 360). And finally, electrotherapy like transcutaneous nerve stimulation can be used as an adjunct to pain treatment. Banerjee & Johnson (2013, p. 139) supported the use of TENS for cervical pain since it is safe, effective and has fewer side effects compared to pharmacologic medication for pain.
In the final analysis, finding out the etiology of cervical instability may assist the physical therapist in customizing a safe, evidence-based plan of care that can help improve the patient's cervical function and efficiently reducing the discomfort associated with this disorder. Which ultimately, reduces the risk of undergoing a surgical procedure.
To answer your question: Physical therapy intervention was not mentioned in any of the articles above, do you think physical therapy intervention will help in improving cervical joints instability of those patients who were managed with a nonsurgical approach, and can PT exercises decrease the need for surgical later on?
Great question. From time to time, I am asked to cover the outpatient physical therapy clinic. Although low back pain related evaluations are common, I sporadically received a few consults from the internal medicine physician concerning “cervical joint dysfunction” or “cervical joint instability.” This diagnosis on occasion throws me off guard and provokes me to ask a question “Why do I have to see this patient with cervical instability?” and “Should this patient be referred to ortho first for activity guidelines?”.
As I …show more content…
Strengthening of the cervical and paraspinal muscles is an important part of rehabilitation, not to mention, ergonomic evaluation and postural awareness exercises can all aid in reducing cervical discomfort and maintaining the cervical joint (Diab & Moustafa, 2012, p. 360). And finally, electrotherapy like transcutaneous nerve stimulation can be used as an adjunct to pain treatment. Banerjee & Johnson (2013, p. 139) supported the use of TENS for cervical pain since it is safe, effective and has fewer side effects compared to pharmacologic medication for pain.
In the final analysis, finding out the etiology of cervical instability may assist the physical therapist in customizing a safe, evidence-based plan of care that can help improve the patient's cervical function and efficiently reducing the discomfort associated with this disorder. Which ultimately, reduces the risk of undergoing a surgical procedure.