06/05/2022
Note: Consent was obtained and client agreed voluntarily for documentation
Case: Cervical muscle strain with occasional radiculopathy
Cervical muscle strain is one of the most common musculoskeletal issues. These are believed to be "panuhot" in our vernacular. I hate to break it all to you, but that's a myth! There's no such thing as "panuhot" in the medical field. These "panuhots" or tied muscle fibers formed into a knot are called muscle spasms. They are commonly found on your upper back, & neck area. These can develop over time or simply the result of poor posture. An increasingly common problem is text neck, which describes neck pain that is caused by looking down at a phone screen or other wireless device for too long or too frequently. These knots can sometimes lead to cervicogenic headaches and even radiculopathies ( numbness/ tingling sensation running down to one or both of your hands/fingers).
How can we diagnose Cervical Muscle Strain?
A physical examination will review your posture, ability to move, and the position of your head and chin. Assessment shows tenderness on your upper back & neck area, decrease range of motion (movement) of your neck, decrease muscle strength in your neck & arms and numbness/tingling sensation if radiculopathy is present.
Course:
Pt's condition started in 2018. Pt was a med student, carries big bags and big books for a long time. Felt muscular pain on both of her shoulders. No tingling sensations noted. Sought PT on a different clinic on the same year but reports only little improvement. For 3 yrs, pt had carried this condition, still complains of neck stiffness & discomfort and heaviness on both of her shoulders. In 2022, pt experienced occasional tingling sensation on both or her arms running down to her fingers (R>L) causing her to seek PT.
Upon our initial evaluation, noted:
(+) pt is forward headed
(+) muscle spasm & tenderness on neck & upper back muscles
(+) decreased neck rotation and side bending on both sides
Moderate difficulty in certain neck & shoulder motions
Occasional tingling sensation on both arms
However, after 2 weeks of PT Sessions, pt reported decrease stiffness on neck & upper back. Can now perform full ROM on all neck & shoulder motions. And little to none tingling sensation on arms. (See pictures & vids below for reference)
Thank you for trusting our service maam! 😊
Have you been experiencing the same problem? Contact your Physical Therapist now and let us help you back on the wagon! 💪🏻