Cervical Spondylosis
Spondylosis is a general term used for various degenerative conditions of the spine. The bones of the spine known as the vertebrae, disc, ligaments etc are affected. Sometimes a smaller area of the spine or sometimes from the base of the skull to the lower back is affected
This degenerative change of spine is also known as osteoarthritis.
Causes and Symptoms
It can start at any age but worsens as we age. Pain will keep on increasing if proper medical help is not taken. Few factors which lead to early degenerative changes are lack of physical activity , poor posture, long working hours , poor muscle strength , lack of nutrition , smoking etc.
Pain and Stiffness in neck and back
Degeneration leads to dehydrated spinal discs , discs absorbs the shock in our body, drying of these discs leads to rubbing of bones against each other and causes pain Extra bone growth around the cervical vertebrae can cause compression of soft tissues around, leading to pain.
Early morning pain
Degeneration causes tightness in the muscles and thus causes soreness in the body.
Weakness in the arms
Compression of nerves and tightness of the muscles leads to weakness of the neck and arms .
Numbness and Tingling
Degeneration and herniated disc ( i.e displacement of the disc from its position) causes compression of the nerves leading to numbness and tingling in the arms or hands.
Grinding sounds
Grinding sounds with neck movements due to degeneration of the spine.
Difficulty in walking or lack of coordination
In geriatric population when the condition becomes chronic neck pain starts affecting the balance of the body , thus making it difficult for the individual to walk freely.
Management
The sooner the problem is diagnosed and treatment is started the better is the recovery. The best treatment proved till date is Physiotherapy. The treatment programs should be individualized. The pace of recovery varies with age and severity of the condition. Physiotherapy treatment includes
Hot or Ice packs : helps in reducing the inflammation and spasm of the muscles
Flexibility and Strengthening program : Working on muscles and improving the strength will help in slowing down the progression of the degenerative process and improves posture as well
Ergonomic correction while working
Yoga: Helps in alleviating the pain by increasing the flexibility of the body.
The exercises will help in reducing the pain only if performed correctly, chances of injury are higher if the movements are poorly executed. Contact us for a demo and understand how severe your pain is.
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