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Evaluation of chronic cervical muscle spasm
Author(s) -
Clark Glenn M.
Publication year - 1964
Publication title -
clinical pharmacology and therapeutics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.941
H-Index - 188
eISSN - 1532-6535
pISSN - 0009-9236
DOI - 10.1002/cpt196456part2955
Subject(s) - medicine , muscle spasm , bursitis , whiplash , cervical spondylosis , range of motion , physical therapy , diazepam , fibromyalgia , rheumatoid arthritis , anxiety , neck pain , anesthesia , physical medicine and rehabilitation , surgery , pathology , psychiatry , poison control , alternative medicine , environmental health
Evaluation of disability involving pain and limitation of motion of the neck in such conditions as “whiplash in;ury,” fibrositis, rheumatoid arthritis, cervical disc disease, gout, “bursitis,” cervical osteoarthritis, as well as in anxiety reactions, coronary disease, neuromuscular disorders, hysteria, and “secondary gain syndrome” is extremely complicated and often the sub;ect of controversy, especially medicolegal. The diagnostic “tools” are discussed, and a simple technique for testing range of motion is described as a means for establishing the presence of cervical muscle spasm. Appropriate management is based on classification of cervical muscle spasm in six broad etiologic categories. In a 15 month pilot study 60 patients evaluated by the testing procedure and classification were treated with diazepam. The findings were a measurable increase in neck motion in patients in whom anxiety was a component of the cervical muscle spasm. Those with organic disease showed no consistent change by objective testing of motion range, but most of these sub;ects reported feeling better.