What is salon sink radiculopathy?
Salon sink radiculopathy, which presents as pain, tingling, and/or weakness radiating from the neck to the arms, is caused by compression of a nerve root in the cervical spine. People with pre-existing neck problems, such as arthritis in the neck, or sports, work, or traffic injuries are most at risk. Stylists report that more and more of their customers have been told by their doctors not to lean back in the bowl. What causes salon sink radiculopathy? In an article in the American Journal of Physical & Medical Rehabilitation, (July-August, 1999), Drs. Stitik, Nadler, and Foye present a case study of two patients who presented with this disorder. They report that the backward extension of the neck into the bowl with rotation and side-bending, combined with the mild compressive force by the stylist during salon procedures, resulted in hyperextention. When the neck is in this hyperextended position, the nerve roots are compressed. They recommend that patients with suspected or known cerv
