Objective: To investigate the effect of forward head posture correction on pain and nerve root function in cases of cervical spondylotic radiculopathy. Design: A randomized controlled study with six months follow-up. Setting: University research laboratory. Subjects: Ninety-six patients with unilateral lower cervical spondylotic radiculopathy (C5–C6 and C6–C7) and craniovertebral angle measured less than or equal to 50° were randomly assigned to an exercise or a control group. Interventions: The control group (n = 48) received ultrasound and infrared radiation, whereas the exercise group (n = 48) received a posture corrective exercise programme in addition to ultrasound and infrared radiation. Main outcome measures: The peak-to-peak amplitude of dermatomal somatosensory evoked potentials, craniovertebral angle, visual analogue scale were measured for all patients at three intervals (before treatment, after 10 weeks of treatment, and at follow-up of six months). Results: There was a significant difference between groups adjusted to baseline value of outcome at 10 weeks post-treatment for craniovertebral angle, pain, C6 and C7 peak-to-peak amplitude of dermatomal somatosensory evoked potentials P = 0.000, 0.01, 0.000, 0.001 respectively and at follow-up for all previous variables (P = 0.000). Conclusion: Forward head posture correction using a posture corrective exercise programme in addition to ultrasound and infrared radiation decreased pain and craniovertebral angle and increased the peak-to-peak amplitude of dermatomal somatosensory evoked potentials for C6 and C7 in cases of lower cervical spondylotic radiculopathy.

Article: The effect of normalizing the sagittal cervical configuration on dizziness, neck pain, and cervicocephalic kinesthetic sensibility: a 1-year randomized controlled study - European Journal of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine 2017 February;53(1):57-71 - Minerva Medica - Journals

Background: There is growing interest in the role of abnormal asymmetrical posture, which is considered one of the most important etiological factors reported to be associated with mechanical low back pain. Objective: This study was conducted to inve

Objective: To investigate the effects of lumbar extension traction in patients with unilateral lumbosacral radiculopathy due to L5–S1 disc herniation.Design: A randomized controlled study with six-month follow-up.Setting: University research laboratory.Subjects: Sixty-four patients with confirmed unilateral lumbosacral radiculopathy due to L5–S1 disc herniation and a lumbar lordotic angle less than 39°, randomly assigned to traction or control group.Interventions: The control group ( n = 32) received hot packs and interferential therapy, whereas the traction group ( n = 32) received lumbar extension traction in addition to hot packs and interferential therapy.Main outcome measures: Absolute rotatory angle, back and leg pain rating scale, Oswestry Disability Index, Modified Schober test, H-reflex (latency and amplitude) and intervertebral movements were measured for all patients three times (before treatment, after 10 weeks of treatment and at six-month follow-up).Results: There was a significant difference between the traction group and the control group adjusted to baseline values at 10 weeks post treatment with respect to: absolute rotatory angle ( P < 0.001), Oswestry Disability Index ( P = 0.002), back and leg pain ( P = 0.009, P = 0.005), Modified Schober test ( P = 0.002), latency and amplitude of H-reflex ( P = 0.01, P < 0.001), intervertebral movements ( P < 0.05). At six-month follow-up there were statistically significant differences between the study and control groups for all the previous variables ( P < 0.05).Conclusion: The traction group receiving lumbar extension traction in addition to hot packs and interferential therapy had better effects than the control group with regard to pain, disability, H-reflex parameters and segmental intervertebral movements.