Differences in balance control between patients with cervical myelopathy and cervical radiculopathy

Cervical radiculopathy is due to compression or irritation of either or both of the dorsal (sensory) and ventral (motor) roots of a cervical nerve at one or more vertebral levels. Compression can result from intervertebral disc herniation, osteophyte formation, or other mass effects near the exit foramen of the cervical spine. This results in lower motor neurone symptoms and often presents with arm pain, weakness, and/or sensory loss, with or without associated neck pain. Cervical myelopathy is spinal cord dysfunction due to compression caused by narrowing of the spinal canal. Common causes include disc herniation, spondylosis, and congenital stenosis, often in combination. The compression causes upper and lower motor and sensory neurone symptoms of the arms and legs, and the onset is often insidious.