Cervical Radiculopathy | “Pinched” Nerve in Neck Rehab (Education | Exercises | Surgery | Myths)

Summary by Krater

Physical therapist Marc Surdyka discusses cervical radiculopathy (a pinched nerve in the neck), its signs, symptoms, natural history, and imaging findings, and provides exercise and lifestyle modification strategies for management.

From the video

Answers: What are the best exercises and management strategies for cervical radiculopathy?

• cervical radiculopathy
• pinched nerve in neck
• neck exercises
• neck pain management
• cervical spine range of motion
• neck isometrics
• cervical spine resistance training

Exercises

• manual resistance neck flexion · hands · 60 s accumulate 3x/day
• manual resistance neck extension · hands · 60 s accumulate 3x/day
• wall neck flexion · wall and towel · 60 s accumulate 3x/day
• wall neck extension · wall and towel · 60 s accumulate 3x/day
• supine neck flexion on bench · bench · 60 s accumulate 3x/day
• quadruped neck extension · mat · 60 s accumulate 3x/day
• inverted row · suspension trainer · 2-4 sets of 10-15 reps 2-3x/week
• push up · bodyweight · 2-4 sets of 10-15 reps 2-3x/week
• side lying thoracic rotation · mat and pillow · 6-8 slow reps per side 2-3x/day
• quadruped thoracic rotation · mat · 6-8 slow reps per side 2-3x/day
• seated thoracic rotation · chair · 6-8 slow reps per side 2-3x/day
• quadruped segmental cat/cow · mat · 3-5 slow reps 2-3x/day
• seated segmental cat/cow · chair · 3-5 slow reps 2-3x/day

What it concludes

• Cervical radiculopathy has a favorable natural history and often gets better on its own regardless of treatment implemented.
• Abnormal findings on imaging such as disc herniations, bulges, and stenosis are common in people with no symptoms.
• Imaging findings are not destiny, and rehabilitation goals should focus on improving function and quality of life rather than changing spinal structures on images.
• Studies show no significant differences in long-term outcomes between surgical and conservative/physiotherapy treatments, suggesting structured physiotherapy should be tried before surgery is chosen.
• Non-operative management is usually the first recommendation for cervical radiculopathy unless severe or progressive neurological deficits are present.