Abstract
As telecommunication technologies advance, efforts are being made to mitigate direct patient contact in the COVID-19 pandemic due to the risk of contagion. The ability to host telephone and video visits within patient portals within health care institutions will only become increasingly valuable. Neck pain, a common complaint seen in primary care clinics, is well-suited to telemedicine evaluation, as related etiologies are often comparatively straightforward. A good assessment of the cervical spine by telephone or video is possible with the right knowledge and practice.The purpose of this article is to propose questions and maneuvers that can be used to evaluate the cervical spine via telephone or video, as well as likely diagnoses that can be reached through these.Phone and video evaluation of the cervical spine can result in valuable data regarding symmetry, range of motion, functional movement patterns, modified strength testing, and provocative testing. The skill set necessary to do telephone and video visits should be included in the curriculum of physician learners.
Highlights
BackgroundNeck pain is among the most frequent complaints of patients seen in primary care clinics [1]
Previous literature has reported the use of telehealth visits prior to the COVID-19 pandemic for patients living in rural areas and for those who are older, blind, or disabled [8]
While telephone and video visits have their limitations, they can allow for the evaluation and accurate diagnosis of patients with neck pain
Summary
Neck pain is among the most frequent complaints of patients seen in primary care clinics [1]. This is likely to become a widely-used method for many patients with pain and disability, whether stemming from the cervical spine or from another source. Anterior/posterior muscle spasm; osteoarthritis “Are you able to fully bend your neck, nearly touching your right/left ear to your shoulder?”. Signs of cervical nerve root irritation or impingement can be obtained with a forward flexion test: pain will be elicited when the patient is asked to turn their head to the side and flex their neck forward (Figure 6A). Previous literature has reported the use of telehealth visits prior to the COVID-19 pandemic for patients living in rural areas and for those who are older, blind, or disabled [8]
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