Radicular Pain Only

Question 1

Features

Answer 1

referred pain worse than neck pain 
pain along line of or clumped along the nerve 
nerve trunk pain only 
minimal associated symptoms - maybe pins and needles
stretch sensitive mainly 
positive neurodynamic tests 
positive neural palpation 
negative neural integrity 
less local hyperalgesia

Question 2

Local Contributing Factors

Answer 2

don’t move well into IVF opening
don’t control IVF closing
impaired movement capacity of the nerve

Question 3

Remote Contributing Factors

Answer 3

thoracic dysfunction drives hole closing
- poor extension flexibility
- poor muscle performance
scapula and thoracic dysfunction causes excessive tension
- thoracic flexion
- scapular depression
thoracic outlet dysfunction

Question 4

General Contributing Factors

Answer 4

spend too much time in IVF closing

spend too much time in tension positions

Question 5

Management - Local Function Movement

Answer 5

improve sliding by opening space around the nerve

• promote movement into IVF opening
• progress static longitudinal neural load
• progress neural movement into IVF opening
• sliding neural mobilisation exercises

Minimise tensioning
- tensioning mobilisation exercises

Question 6

Management - Local Function Muscles

Answer 6

Improve sliding by minimising closing around the nerve 
FIND IT 
precise movement into IVF opening 
CONTROL IT 
control under IVF closing 
stay away from outer range control 
LOAD IT 
reflect functional problems 
target remote issues

Question 7

Management - Remote Function

Answer 7

remove IVF closing load from the cervical spine

• promote Tx extension
• promote Tx ipsilateral rotation and side flexion
• improve Tx muscle capacity into these directions

Improve remote neurodynamics

• improve sliding - open tunnels that the nerve passes through
• unload tension - promote scapula elevation and thoracic extension