A Comparative Study of Clinical Test and Electromyographic Findings in Cervical Pain Syndrome

ABSTRACT

This retrospective study reviewed clinical and electromyographic (EMG) findings in 106 patients with cervical pain syndrome. The purpose of this study was to test the validity of clinical tests (neck compression test, manual muscle test, sensory test, deep tendon reflex) in the diagnosis of cervical radiculopathy. Electromyographic studies were interpretated as positive finding with the presence of abnormal spontaneous activities of limb and paravertebral muscles and the clinical tests were interpretated by the presence or absence of abnormalities. The results showed that the neck compression and manual muscle tests correlated well with the EMG findings but the sensory test and deep tendon reflex were not. It is suggested that the neck compression and manual muscle tests may be helpful in the diagnosis of radiculopathy.