Exercise training for non-operative and post-operative patient with cervical radiculopathy: a literature review
Chih-Hsiu Cheng1, Liang-Ching Tsai2, Hui-Chu Chung1, Wei-Li Hsu3, Shwn-Fen Wang3, Jaw-Lin Wang4,
Dar-Ming Lai5, Andy Chien6*
1 Department of Physical Therapy and Graduate Institute of Rehabilitation Science, College of Medicine,
Chang Gung University, Taiwan
2 Department of Physical Therapy, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, U.S.A.
3 School and Graduate Institute of Physical Therapy, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University,
Taipei, Taiwan
4 Institute of Biomedical Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan 5 Department of Surgery, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
6 Department of Physical Therapy and Graduate Institute of Rehabilitation Science, China Medical
University, Taichung, Taiwan
Corresponding Author: Andy Chien, PT, PhD
Mailing Address: Department of Physical Therapy and Graduate Institute of Rehabilitation Science, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
Phone: +886-4-22053366#7307 Email: achien@mail.cmu.edu.tw Abstract
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[Purpose] Cervical radiculopathy is a clinical condition associated with pain, numbness and/or muscle
weaknesses of the upper extremities due to a compression or irritation of the cervical nerve roots. It is usually managed conservatively but surgical intervention is sometimes required for those who fail to respond adequately. This study performed a literature review to determine the effects of exercise on non-operative and post-operative cervical radiculopathy patients. [Methods] The Pubmed, MEDLINE, CINAHL and Scopus databases were searched to identify relevant articles published from January 1997 to May 2014, which explicitly stated that an exercise program was employed as an intervention for cervical radiculopathy. The therapeutic effectiveness and outcomes were then classified based on the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) model. [Results] Eleven studies were identified and included in the final analysis. In these studies, the main forms of exercise training were specific strengthening and general stretching exercises. Levels of evidence were graded as either I or II for all studies according to the Oxford Centre for Evidence-based Medicine. The PEDro Scale score of these studies ranged from 5 to 8.
[Conclusion] A review of eleven high-level evidence and high-quality studies revealed that, based on the
ICF model, exercise training is beneficial for improving the body function as well as activity participation of cervical radiculopathy patients.
Key words: cervical radiculopathy, exercise training, ICF model
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INTRODUCTION
Cervical radiculopathy is caused by the compression of the cervical nerves or nerve roots1). A
herniated intervertebral disc, bone spur development, or facet joint problem can lead to the compression. The common symptoms of cervical radiculopathy involve pain, muscle weakness spreading into the neck and upper extremities, loss of sensation2), and proprioception deficits3). Although the symptoms experienced by
patients with cervical radiculopathy vary, the symptoms generally appear at certain regions and with specific characteristics depending on the level of nerve compression.
The treatment options for cervical radiculopathy can be divided into surgical and conventional treatments, both of which aim to reduce pain and symptoms, increase nerve function, and prevent recurrence of cervical radiculopathy. No study with a high level of evidence has proved that surgical intervention alone for cervical radiculopathy is effective.4) Surgical interventions are often combined with conventional
nonsurgical treatments, such as medications, use of a cervical collar, cervical traction, and manual therapy. These conventional treatments, however, have not been proven effective by studies with a high level of evidence either5, 6).
Among the methods used for pain and symptom relief in cervical radiculopathy, exercise training has gained popularity through promising results7, 8).However, no systematic review has been made summarizing
the effects of the exercise training on cervical radiculopathy, either as an alternative to surgery or as a post-operative treatment option. The present study searched the literature to determine the treatment effects of exercise interventions for patients with cervical radiculopathy after receiving nonsurgical or surgical treatments.
SUBJECTS AND METHODS
Studies from January 1997 to May 2014 found on four online databases (i.e., MEDLINE, CINAHL, Scopus and PubMed) were searched using the following key words: (a) cervical radiculopathy or cervical
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spondylotic radiculopathy; (b) exercise training or physiotherapy. The selection criterion was that the exercise programs used to treat the radiculopathy must be detailed in the articles. Review articles or studies involving patients with the whiplash syndrome or low back disorders were excluded. Individual assessors were assigned and conducted the literature search of each of the databases using the search terms listed above. All of the identified relevant articles were then collectively presented to one of the authors who then determined their eligibility and inclusion for further analysis.
The quality of the identified studies was assessed using the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) Scale, a scale that is used to assess the strength of the evidence in therapeutic research. The PEDro Scale consists of 11 items and has been shown to be reliable and valid9). The total score of the PEDro Scale ranges
from 0 to 10 points, and studies with high, medium, and low quality are accredited 6-10 points, 4–5 points, and 0-3 points, respectively. The levels of evidence of the identified studies were evaluated using the Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine (OCEBM) Levels of Evidence. Based on the definition of OCEBM, studies are classified as Levels 1 to 5 according to the research design structure and the highest evidence level (Level 1) is given to systematic literature reviews of randomized controlled trials (RCTs).
The therapeutic effectiveness and outcomes of the identified studies were classified based on the three major components of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) model: (1) body function and structure, including the numeric pain rating scale (NPRS), visual analogue scale (VAS), craniovertebral angle, peak-to-peak amplitude of dermatomal somatosensory evoked potentials (DSEP) as an assessment of nerve root function, pain location chart, global rating of change scale (GROC), grip strength, active range of motion (AROM), neck endurance, manual dexterity, and arm elevation during neck extension; (2) activity and participation, including the neck disability index (NDI), patient-specific functional scale (PSFS), coping strategies questionnaire, and disability index rating (DIR); and (3) personal factors, including the Mood Adjective Check List, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, patient satisfaction, and fear-avoidance beliefs questionnaire (FABQ).
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RESULTS
Eleven studies that met our search terms and inclusion criteria were examined in this study (Figure 1), and all involved randomized controlled trials. All the studies were categorized as OCEBM Levels 1 and 2, indicating a high level of evidence. Table 1 provides quality assessments of the 11 studies according to the PEDro Scale. Because exercise was employed as the main intervention, the practice of blinding the research participants and surveying personnel was impractical; consequently, no scores were obtained for Questions 5 and 6 of the PEDro assessment. Nevertheless, most of the studies scored 6 to 8 points and thus were categorized as high-quality studies.
In the six studies10-15) of non-surgical exercise interventions, not all the participants were diagnosed as
having cervical radiculopathy using the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (Table 2). The duration of exercise interventions ranged from 10 days to 10 weeks, while the exact time of each intervention session was not clearly defined. The exercise intervention items incorporated strength training (eg, isometric exercises of the deep cervical flexor muscles, shoulder retraction muscles, and scapular muscles) and stretching exercises (stretches for the neck and chest muscles). The outcome measures primarily focused on pain (VAS or NPRS) and disability (NDI). The results of these six studies indicate that patients in the exercise groups exhibited alleviated pain and reduced levels of disability. A significantly increased peak-to-peak amplitude of DSEP, elevated grip strength, and improved craniovertebral angle to lessen the forward head posture (FHP) were also reported.
Among the five studies that involved a surgical control group, two studies16, 17) were published by the
same research group and had identical participants (Table 3). After being diagnosed as having cervical radiculopathy by MRI, the participants in these two studies received exercise treatments that continued for 3 months after surgery. The protocols involved in the post-surgical exercise interventions were similar to those in the nonsurgical exercise interventions, with nursing education additionally incorporated. The outcome
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measurements were pain, disability, range of motion of the cervical joint, muscular endurance, and hand dexterity. Compared with patients in an exercise-only group, the patients who received post-surgical exercise interventions experienced favorable improvements in terms of neck pain at the initial stage of the post-surgical exercise intervention. However, no significant difference was observed between the two groups at the 2-year follow-up testing. Regarding neck disability, no significant difference was observed between the exercise and control groups before and after the patients received treatments. While no significant differences in cervical joint angle and neck muscular endurance were found between the two groups, both groups demonstrated a post-treatment increase in neck muscle endurance.
The other three studies with surgical control groups18-20) compared the outcomes between the surgical
and exercise treatments, and they were also published by the same research group (Table 4). The participants were all recruited after being diagnosed as having cervical radiculopathy by MRI. Unlike the exercise interventions employed in the studies mentioned above, aerobic exercise was performed in these studies. Outcome measurements included pain and disability as well as a questionnaire for assessing physical function and psychological state. At the initial stage, surgical treatment showed a favorable effect in terms of the neck pain; however, no significant difference was observed between the two groups at 1-year follow-up. No differences were observed between the two types of treatment regarding improvements in the cervical joint angle, range of motion of the shoulder joint, or anxiety.
DISCUSSION
Our systematic review indicates that exercises for patients with cervical radiculopathy primarily incorporated strength training and stretching of the neck muscles. Exercise intensity ranged from twice per week to once per day, with intervention periods lasting from 10 days to 10 weeks. Exercise treatment primarily reduced pain and disability. Strength training of the neck and chest can increase the proprioception of patients and promote muscle strength balance around the neck, thereby potentially reducing pain,
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strengthening body function, and preventing recurring injury21). Cervical radiculopathy is frequently
associated with inactivity and thus the aerobic capacity of patients may decrease rapidly and their deconditioned state may prevent them from participating in strength training22). Consequently, aerobic
exercise training should be considered as one of the exercise programs for patients with cervical radiculopathy. Neck stretching exercises can maintain the active range of motion and normal function of the neck, avoiding scarring, adhesion, and repetitive micro-trauma of the neck5).
Based on the results of the 11 studies, it is our conclusion that the overall effect of exercise interventions is two-fold: (1) improving body structure and function: pain reduction, FHP reduction, increase of peak-to-peak amplitude of DSEP, and enhanced grip strength, neck muscle endurance, and manual dexterity; (2) facilitating activity and social participation: decreased neck disability and improved patient self-care ability for daily life. The primary difference between the effects of the surgical and exercise treatments or between those of the post-surgical exercise and exercise-only treatments pertained to pain, especially within the first year of receiving the interventions as no significant differences were reported between the two approaches after one year. In previous studies, there has been controversy over whether or not FHP reduction results from pain relief23).Diab et al. used ultrasound therapy and infrared therapy to treat
the control group. Although short-term pain was reduced substantially in the control group, no evident improvement was shown in FHP. However, both pain and FHP significantly improved in the exercise group, which was accredited to the amelioration of muscle balance following exercise training. The increased peak-to-peak amplitude of the DSEP suggests that exercise interventions may improve the function of patients’ nervous systems10).
Many of the 11 reviewed studies of exercise interventions also included other auxiliary physical treatments. Only the study by Fritz et al.11) involved an exercise-only intervention group. The primary
purpose of the auxiliary physical treatments was to relieve pain, which may have influenced the treatment effect of the exercise interventions. The baseline conditions of the patients in each study differed, such as the
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intensity of pain (Table 2-4). In addition, not all diagnoses of cervical radiculopathy were confirmed by MRI, and the therapeutic doses varied substantially. These factors might have influenced the treatment efficacy and by extension, the validity of the results of meta-analysis.
Several limitations of this study should be addressed. First, three studies exclusively comparing outcomes between surgical and physical treatments18-20) were from the same research group (hereinafter
referred to as the first research group), and the participants in these studies possibly overlapped. In addition, two studies that compared exercise-only treatment and post-surgical exercise treatment16, 17) were also
conducted by the same research group with identical participants (hereinafter referred to as the second research group). Because the first research group provided VAS data at different stages and the second research group showed VAS data as changes between the pre- and post-treatment periods, making direct comparison and meta-analysis impossible. Regarding the range of motion of the cervical spine, the first research group considered the sum of the angles in three orthogonal planes, whereas the second research group provided separate angle data for each plane; consequently, direct comparison and meta-analysis were not possible in this instance. Second, the first research group indicated that no exercise treatments was performed by the patients within 3 months of receiving surgical treatment, but it was not clearly stated whether exercise through self-participation or other methods was prohibited within this 3-month period. Therefore, the results obtained at 1 year after surgery may not be treated as the exclusive effects of the surgical intervention. Third, thus far, patients receiving post-surgical exercise treatment have only been followed for up to 2 years16, 17). Thus, the long-term effect of exercise treatment beyond 2 years remains
unknown. Fourth, these studies did not detail or classify the severity of the nerve root compression experienced by the patients; therefore, the variation in the baseline conditions among the participants may also have influenced treatment effects.
CONCLUSION
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Our systematic review of eleven randomized controlled trial studies indicates that nonsurgical treatments were mostly combined with multiple treatment patterns and that few studies investigated the effects of post-surgical exercise treatment. The exercise treatments for cervical radiculopathy involved deep cervical flexor muscle training, posture correction, and muscle stretching. It appears that exercise treatment can improve body structure and function, as well as the activity participation of the patients. However, these studies were not focused on assessing personal factors and the environment. Future studies are warranted in order to incorporate the ICF model in the assessment, and to yield more evidence capable of verifying that post-surgical exercise interventions are beneficial for patients with radiculopathy.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This research was supported by the Ministry of Science and Technology (101-2221-E-182-020-MY3), and the Chang Gung Memorial Hospital Research Program (CMRPD1D0121, CMRPD1D0122).
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