Chapter 15 · Head & Neck
Nerve Pain — Neck (Radiculopathy) protocol
Indexed — full page in progressSource: Rehab Science · Ch 15 · PDF pp. 298–322📖 Rehab ScienceBuild my programme →
AMBER — get assessed before starting rehab
Screen for red flags before starting any protocol (safety check). Progress by symptoms and function, not by the calendar: > 3/10 pain → start phase 1; < 3/10 → phase 2 (PDF p. 205).Follow this programme to treat
- Sharp neck pain
- Numbness and tingling radiating down the arm (radiculopathy)
- Disc herniation (disc bulge) and stenosis
- Thoracic outlet syndrome
Conditions in this protocol
- Neck disc herniation and stenosis (cervical radiculopathy) PDF p. 298
- Thoracic outlet syndrome PDF p. 303
Questions the book answers
Good for
- Alleviating neck and arm nerve pain
- Relieving muscle tension
- Warm-up for phase 2 and 3 exercises
Guidelines
- Perform every day
- Tools: small massage ball, peanut tool, yoga block, foam roller
- Add phase 2 when you have no pain at rest and no more than mild pain (3/10) with the exercises
Soft Tissue Mobilizations
▶ Spend 1–2 minutes on each area · Perform in any order on both sides · Stop on tender points for 10–20 seconds
side view · red = working arm
Pectoral mobilisation
Release tension at the front of the shoulder and chest.
PDF p. 306
diagram pending
Cervical extensor mobilization
PDF p. 307 · instructions pending
side view · red = working arm
Thoracic mobilisation (foam roller)
Loosen the mid-back so the shoulder can move more freely.
PDF p. 308
side view · red = working arm
Levator scapulae mobilisation
Ease tension at the top inner corner of the shoulder blade.
PDF p. 308
side view · red = working arm
Rhomboid mobilisation
Relieve tension between the shoulder blade and spine.
PDF p. 309
Good for
- Improving spinal and nerve mobility
- Reducing nerve pain sensitivity
- Warm-up for phase 3 exercises
Guidelines
- Perform every day
- Tool: foam roller
- Add phase 3 when you can do the exercises with no more than mild pain (3/10)
Mobility Exercises
▶ Do 3 sets of 10–15 reps · Active range of motion (AROM)—move as far as you can without pain · Pause at end range for 2–3 seconds
front view · red = working arm
Angel (foam roller)
Dynamically stretch the chest and encourage a more upright posture.
PDF p. 311
diagram pending
Cervical mobility
PDF p. 312 · instructions pending
diagram pending
Flexion and extension
PDF p. 312 · instructions pending
diagram pending
Rotation
PDF p. 313 · instructions pending
diagram pending
Side-bend
PDF p. 313 · instructions pending
diagram pending
Protraction and retraction
PDF p. 314 · instructions pending
Nerve Mobilizations
▶ Start with 1 set of 10–15 reps · Add 1–2 more sets if symptoms don’t flare up
Good for
- Reducing nerve pain sensitivity
- Improving nerve mobility and stretch tolerance
- Preventing nerve-related neck pain and injury
Guidelines
- Perform 3 or 4 days a week
- Do 3 reps with 5- to 10-second holds
- Stop or back off the stretch if you feel tingling, numbness, or shooting pain
- Once nerve sensitivity calms down, add phase 3 exercises from the Neck Pain protocol (here–here) to prevent future flare-ups
Source: Rehab Science · Ch 15 · PDF pp. 298–309· 2 original research citationsshow sources ▾
Also cited by the book on these pages:
- [Ch 15·7] Hidalgo B, Hall T, Bossert J, Dugeny A, Cagnie B, Pitance L. The efficacy of manual therapy and exercise for treating non-specific neck pain: a systematic review. J Back Musculoskelet Rehabil. 2017;30(6):1149-1169. find original ↗
- [Ch 15·10] Basson A, Olivier B, Ellis R, Coppieters M, Stewart A, Mudzi W. The effectiveness of neural mobilization for neuromusculoskeletal conditions: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2017;47(9):593-615. find original ↗
Page numbers are those of the uploaded PDF edition. "Find original" opens a PubMed search for the cited study.