Abstract: BACKGROUND: Motion capture technology can comprehensively and accurately analyze the three-dimensional structure angle of the cervical spine and obtain accurate data, which is helpful to understand the movement characteristics of the cervical spine in patients with cervical radiculopathy. It is of vital significance for guiding the prevention of cervical spondylotic radiculopathy, assisting cervical spondylotic radiculopathy diagnosis, formulating personalized treatment plans, and guiding rehabilitation training. 
OBJECTIVE: To explore the cervical motion characteristics of patients with cervical spondylotic radiculopathy and reveal the pathogenesis of cervical spondylotic radiculopathy through motion capture technology. 
METHODS: Five cervical spondylotic radiculopathy patients who visited the Orthopedics Department of First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine from October 1, 2023 to March 1, 2024 were analyzed as the cervical spondylotic radiculopathy group. Five healthy individuals were selected as the healthy control group. The gender, age, head circumference, and body mass index of all subjects were recorded. The angle change process (trajectory) and motion range were captured during the six degrees of freedom of neck flexion, extension, left flexion, right flexion, left rotation, and right rotation of the research subjects using Inertial Measurement Unit sensors. 
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) The cervical spondylotic radiculopathy group had significantly smaller changes in C2-C7 relative angles during forward flexion than the healthy control group (P < 0.01). The range of neck motion error in cervical spondylotic radiculopathy group was significantly larger than that in the healthy control group during right rotation (P < 0.01). The time for the cervical spine to reach its maximum range of flexion during forward flexion was longer than the time to return to normal position (P < 0.01). (2) The range of motion of the cervical spondylotic radiculopathy group was significantly lower than that of the healthy control group in terms of forward flexion and right rotation (P < 0.001). These findings indicate that patients with cervical spondylotic radiculopathy have degeneration of the muscles and nerves on the affected side during vertebral body movement, muscle strength and coordination abilities are reduced. The muscles and nerves on the healthy side will compensate for the deficiency of the affected side and overcontrol, which is consistent with the concept of “musculoskeletal imbalance.” 

Key words: cervical spondylotic radiculopathy, cervical spine movement, motion capture, inertial sensors, musculoskeletal imbalance, engineered tissue construction