Objective: Various disorders affecting cervical region, mainly whiplash injuries, may distress postural performance. The purpose of this study was to compare the postural performance of patients suffering from neck pain and/or brachialgia with cervical root compression to those without compression.
 

Materials and Methods: The study consisted of two groups: radiculopathy group-34 patients, who have been suffering from neck pain and/or brachialgia during the last 6 months and with at least one cervical root compression at spinal level identified on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) taken in the last 6 months, and neck pain group-37 persons who had neck pain and/or brachialgia during the last 6 months, but without cervical root compression detected by MRI. Postural performance was assessed by computerized static posturography (Tetrax); and fall risk, stability index (SI), weight distribution index (WDI) and Fourier frequency values were evaluated after calculation using the measurements in eight different positions. 
 

Results: Fall risk, total SI and F2-4 Fourier frequency values, measured during cervical rotation and flexion-extension, were found to be significantly worse in the radiculopathy group compared with the neck pain group (p<0.05). No difference was found between the groups in terms of total WDI value and in the measurements carried out at other positions (p>0.05). 
 

Conclusion: Subjects who had cervical root compression detected by MRI give negative measurement results in terms of some posturographic parameters as compared with the results of subjects without cervical root compression. The clinical significance and relevance of these results should be investigated.