Gait Asymmetry And Its Relationship With Neck Pain And Muscles Strength In Patients With Cervical Radiculopathy

Gait Asymmetry And Its Relationship With Neck Pain And Muscles Strength In Patients With Cervical Radiculopathy

This study will be conducted to:

• Investigate the relationship between neck pain severity and bilateral gait symmetry in patients with cervical radiculopathy.
• Investigate the relationship between deep neck flexors strength and gait symmetry in patients with cervical radiculopathy.
• Investigate the relationship between upper limb muscles strength and bilateral gait symmetry in patients with cervical radiculopathy.
• Determine factors predicting bilateral gait asymmetry in patients with cervical radiculopathy.

Cervical pain and upper limb radiculopathy put a huge burden on patients due to its sensory dysfunction manifestations and also affect its motor capabilities, specifically the gait performance, understanding how cervical and upper limb pain or/and weakness contribute to gait disturbance can guide us to make a better assessment and rehabilitation program for each patient individually.

Gait symmetry is considered as a very important factor to guarantee a safe and effective walking and for the daily movement, recent studies found out that patients with chronic neck pain and radiculopathy have slower gait pattern and increase of gait asymmetry which can impair balance and functional mobility. Also, the alteration of the cervical and upper limb muscle strength can impair the whole-body dynamic stability and increase the gait asymmetry.

Altered gait symmetry has been linked to increase the risk of falling and disability, so getting to know some of its contributors and treat it (such as specific muscle strengthening) can enhance patient mobility and reduce fall morbidity.

To our best knowledge, there are no studies about the relationship between neck pain, muscle strength in patients with cervical radiculopathy, so this study will be conducted to investigate the gait asymmetry and its relationship with neck pain and muscles strength in patients with cervical radiculopathy.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients with unilateral cervical radiculopathy at level of C5-C6 and C6-C7 confirmed by MRI.
• Patient's age will be ranged from 40 to 50 years.
• Patients with chronic symptoms > 3 months.
• Patients with decreased strength in cervical or upper limb muscles.
• Ability to walk independently without assistive devices.
• Patients with normal body mass index (BMI) (< 30kg/m²) .

Exclusion Criteria:

• Bilateral cervical radiculopathy.
• History of cervical spine surgery or instability.
• Diagnosed with myelopathy, canal stenosis, or severe disc protrusion.
• History of vestibular dysfunction, stroke, or severe cognitive impairment.
• Any Lower limb dysfunction affecting walking.
• Peripheral neuropathy or uncontrolled diabetes.
• Psychiatric diseases
• Pregnancy.