Laser Pointer Stabilization and Proprioception Training in a Patient with Cervicalgia and Movement Impairment: A Case Report

Background: Cervicalgia is the fourth leading cause of disability in the United States, causing more and more people to seek treatment from physical therapists. Sensorimotor training is an integral part of treating musculoskeletal conditions, and the addition of sensorimotor exercises to traditional therapy for cervicalgia patients may decrease prevalence, recurrence, and burden. Therefore, the purpose of this case report is to highlight an accessible and affordable way for physical therapists to incorporate motor control training in patients with cervicalgia and movement impairment. Case Description: A 66-year-old female presented to outpatient physical therapy with the chief complaint of neck pain and headaches. The patient had limited cervical range of motion (ROM), increased tone in suboccipital muscles, decreased activation of scapular stabilizers, and poor movement control. The patient’s self-reported biggest limitation was the ability to turn her head to the right while driving. Intervention: 6 sessions of traditional physical therapy followed by 8 sessions of traditional physical therapy with the addition of sensorimotor training by means of laser pointer treatment. Outcome Measures: Outcome measures included ROM, pain, Neck Disability Index (NDI), and measurements taken during the laser pointer treatment consisting of distance (centimeters), error, and time (seconds). Discussion: This case study demonstrates the positive outcomes that traditional therapy combined with sensorimotor training has on treating cervicalgia. The patient demonstrated improvements in all outcome measures after tradition and sensorimotor training and reports increased ease with functional mobility. Laser pointer therapy is an accessible and cost-effective way to incorporate sensorimotor and proprioception training into traditional therapy sessions.