Airport induced "cervical traction" radiculopathy: the OJ syndrome

The escalation of airline travel compounded by federal deregulation, fostering crowded airports, delayed flights, and inconvenient gate scheduling, has forced the frequent flyer to run from one gate to another, carrying heavy under-the-seat bags. Eleven busy executive, nine men and two women, developed cervical radicular pain complaints associated with weakness and painful dysesthesias in the involved extremity. Four had right C6 root symptoms and seven had left C7 complaints. All had evidence, by x-ray, of cervical degenerative disc disease and three had abnormal electromyograms. Treatment, consisting of intermittent cervical traction after moist heat, as well as a modification of their travel habits including the use of a folding wheeled cart, in every instance resolved these complaints.