Cervical collar or physiotherapy versus wait and see policy for recent onset cervical radiculopathy: randomised trial.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To evaluate the effectiveness of treatment with collar or physiotherapy compared with a wait and see policy in recent onset cervical radiculopathy.

Design

Randomised controlled trial.

Setting

Neurology outpatient clinics in three Dutch hospitals.

Participants

205 patients with symptoms and signs of cervical radiculopathy of less than one month's duration

Interventions

Treatment with a semi-hard collar and taking rest for three to six weeks; 12 twice weekly sessions of physiotherapy and home exercises for six weeks; or continuation of daily activities as much as possible without specific treatment (control group).

Main outcome measures

Time course of changes in pain scores for arm and neck pain on a 100 mm visual analogue scale and in the

SUBMITTER: Kuijper B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2758937 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature