Evaluation of functional disability in cervical radiculopathy patients

Abstract

AIM: The main aim of this study was to evaluate functional disability in patients with cervical radiculopathy. Our second aim was to compare neck disability between males and females. METHODS: The study included 35 participants of both sexes, in which 21 were female and 14 male. We have used three scales for the evaluation of neck disability: (1) Cervical radiculopathy Impact Scale (CRIS), (2) Neck Pain and Disability (NPAD) Scale, and (3) Copenhagen Neck Functional Disability (CNFD) Scale. RESULTS: The mean scores of CRIS were 14.35 ± 15.59 in males and 33.22 ± 17.58 in females. The NPAD Scale scores were 14.35 ± 15.59 in males and 33.22 ± 17.58 in females. The mean scores of the CNFD Scale were 7.92 ± 5.56 in males and 13.50 ± 5.61 in females. All three scales showed a significant difference between the scores of the two genders, indicating more disability in female patients as compared with the male patients. CONCLUSION: Our results showed 26.22% and 25.88% disability as per CRIS and Neck Pain and Disability Scale, respectively. We found mild-to-moderate disability in our subjects according to the CNFD Scale. The study concluded that females have more disability in cervical radiculopathy as compared to males.

Keywords

• cervical radiculopathy
• functional disability
• neck pain
• nerve root compression