Article

There is limited evidence supporting the conservative
management of patients with cervical myelopathy. The purpose of this report is to
describe the intervention and outcomes of conservative physical therapy
interventions for one patient with chronic cervical myelopathy. CASE DESCRIPTION:
This case was a 50-year-old male who sustained a neck injury following a rear-end
collision 4 years prior to this therapeutic episode.
The patient presented with
decreased range of motion in the cervical spine and right upper extremity,
strength deficits, altered sensation, poor posture, and reported chronic cervical
region pain and difficulty sleeping. INTERVENTION: The patient completed 10 weeks
of conservative physical therapy. The patient completed the Neck Disability Index
(NDI), Medical Outcome Survey Sleep Scale (MSS), short-form McGill Pain
Questionnaire (SFMPQ), Patient-Specific Functional Scale (PSFS), and baseline
clinical measurements of flexibility and strength were obtained. OUTCOMES: After
the 10-week episode of care, the following changes were noted from baseline: 18%
improvement on the NDI, 26% improvement on the MSS, 25% decrease in pain on the
SFMPQ, and a 39% improvement on the total score of the PSFS. Cervical range of
motion measurements increased between 25% and 100%. Grip strength demonstrated a
465% increase on the right upper extremity and a 25% increase on the left upper
extremity. DISCUSSION: This case report suggests that conservative management of
chronic traumatic cervical myelopathy was effective in helping to improve pain,
sleep, and function in this patient with a traumatic mechanism of injury.

Langue : ANGLAIS