What to expect from physiotherapy for cervical radiculopathy

Your physiotherapist may ask about neck pain, tingling, numbness or weakness travelling into the shoulder, arm or hand. They can check neck movement, posture, reflexes, sensation and strength to understand how the nerve is behaving. Treatment may include comfortable neck and upper-back movements, positions that reduce arm symptoms, gentle hands-on techniques and exercises for the shoulder blades. Symptoms should guide the pace; increasing arm pain, numbness or weakness is a reason to report the change.

Practise the agreed home exercises with the prescribed technique and frequency, and pause an exercise that causes spreading symptoms. Change position regularly, support the arm when resting if that feels helpful, and follow advice about lifting, driving and desk posture. Progress commonly moves from symptom control to mobility, endurance and strengthening. The plan should be adjusted as your nerve symptoms and function change.

Contact a clinician promptly if arm or hand weakness is worsening, numbness is spreading, pain becomes severe or you develop problems with balance. Seek urgent care for new loss of bladder or bowel control, numbness around the groin, or weakness affecting more than one limb. These changes need medical assessment rather than an exercise adjustment alone.

Ask which movements should ease the arm symptoms, which activities to limit, how to monitor strength, and when imaging or review is needed if progress stalls.