The effectiveness of a magnetic collar (field strength 1,000 to 1,100 gauss) was compared with that of a nonmagnetic placebo collar and of the usual combined physiotherapy in a total of 92 patients suffering from a chronic cervicovertebral syndrome without clinical signs of direct nerve-root compression. In addition to regular examination for subjective changes and documentation of the objective findings, the patients were invited to record the extent and nature of their symptoms on the body diagram provided and to make personal statements on the effectiveness and side effects of the three therapeutic measures. The results as a whole revealed neither a relevant nor a significant activity of either of the two collars. The complex physiotherapy reduced the severity of the symptoms to a highly significant extent within 4 weeks by 35.4 +/- 34.3% and improved the objective findings by 22.0 +/- 25.6%. Clinically striking was the relationship of the neck pain to impairment of facial sensation, hearing and equilibrium as well as to the low-back pain and sleep disturbances already manifested earlier. The severity of the paraesthesia in the arm and radiating to the fingers was taken as a measure of the state of irritation within the segment of the cervical spine affected. Aetiologically, attention is drawn to the general postural problems of patients. In conclusion, suggestion are made concerning the particular procedures used in physical treatment of the chronic cervicovertebral syndrome.

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