The role of phonophoresis in dyshpagia due to cervical osteophytes.

OBJECTIVE: Treatment of patients with anterior cervical osteophytes causing dysphagia includes conservative treatment with anti-inflammatory drugs, muscle relaxants, antibiotics, and an appropriate soft diet. Physical therapy with its advantages may be an alternative method in the treatment, which was not reported previously. CASE DESCRIPTION: Phonophoresis therapy is applied in nine patients with dysphagia due to cervical osteophytes. RESULTS: The symptom of dysphagia regressed in various degrees in all patients after phonophoresis therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Phonophoresis might be an alternative method for the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) treatment in patients with dysphagia due to cervical osteophytes.