EFFECTIVENESS OF MANUAL THERAPY IN MANAGING OCCUPATIONAL CERVICAL RADICULOPATHY: A CASE STUDY OF A UNIVERSITY STUDENT

Abstract

Background: Prolonged sedentary postures and increased screen time among university students have led to a rising prevalence of cervical radiculopathy. This case study evaluates the efficacy of a segmented, phase-specific manual therapy protocol in managing occupational cervical radiculopathy. Case Description: A 23-year-old male undergraduate student presented with right-sided C6 radiculopathy secondary to prolonged desk work and thesis writing. The therapeutic intervention spanned four weeks, divided into two distinct phases. Phase 1 prioritized soft tissue mobilization and isometric stabilization, whereas Phase 2 incorporated Maitland articular mobilization, neural sliding techniques, and manual cervical traction. Outcomes: Post-intervention assessments revealed significant clinical reductions in the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for pain and substantial functional restoration, as evidenced by improved Neck Disability Index (NDI) scores. Conclusion: A structured, phase-wise manual therapy regimen presents an effective, conservative strategy for mitigating radicular symptoms and restoring functional capacity in young adults experiencing academic-related postural strain.