Evaluation of cervical range of motion in a cervical radiculopathy patient group and a matched control group using the Spin-T Goniometer

Forty- six cervical radiculopathy patients, age- and gender-matched with 43 controls, recruited in this study were measured for end-range flexion, extension, lateral rotation right and left using the Spin-T goniometer. Within group differences were calculated using a paired t-test and differences between groups were compared using an independent sample t-test at p <0.05. The results showed that the mean cervical spine ROM in the cervical radiculopathy group was reduced compared to matched controls for flexion (t = 2.26, p = 0.02), extension (t = 2.30, p = 0.02) and full cycle rotation (sum of left and right rotation) (t = 2.01, p = 0.04). Differences calculated within normal controls and the patients for paired rotation movements were not significant. Cervical ROM comparisons between a cervical radiculopathy patient cohort and a normal control group indicate a trend toward limitation of ROM compared to normal controls although it does not seem to be a systematic feature of the pain population as tested in this study. The reduction was not unilaterally patterned and did not show any difference in individual movements of the cervical spine when compared to any one painful side.