BACKGROUND: Patients receiving treatment for head and neck cancer often have shoulder dysfunction. Both radiation and neck dissections may harm the shoulder joint. AIM AND OBJECTIVES: The primary goal of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of early physical therapy intervention protocol to help in formulating the best course of care for motor and functional recovery after neck dissection. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: This study was conducted on 40 patients who had undergone neck dissection. They are chosen from the National Cancer Institute Hospital and randomly divided into two equal groups in number each one has 20 patients. Group A (Study group) received a physical therapy program and their medical treatment. Group B (Control group) received only their medical treatment. RESULTS: There was a high significant difference between Pretreatment and Posttreatment as regard to shoulder flexion and abduction ROM. The mean Flexion range of motion (ROM) 140.55 +/- 5.20 pretreatment; the mean Flexion range of motion 155.50 +/- 9.35 post-treatment and as for the mean abduction range of motion 148.50 +/- 5.20 Pretreatment; the mean abduction range of motion 159.2 +/- 11.7 Posttreatment, also statistical difference was found before and after treatment in the Medical Research Council (MRC) scale and the Arabic version of the Disability of Arm, Shoulder and Hand test (DASH) scores. CONCLUSIONS: Early physical therapy intervention appears to provide greater benefits for shoulder dysfunction in post neck dissection patients.

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