Cervical osteochondrosis is a common disease that causes many unpleasant symptoms and significantly worsens the quality of life.It is almost impossible to cure it without surgery.But you can stop the development of the process and get rid of a significant part of the symptoms.Only physical therapy can help with this.
Prescription of therapeutic exercises for osteochondrosis
Osteochondrosis is the degeneration of bone and cartilage (intervertebral discs) tissues of the spine.As a result, its discs become deformed, protrude between the vertebrae, and growths form on the body of the vertebrae.
As a result, nerve endings are pinched, blood vessels running along the spine are pinched, and surrounding tissues are injured by bone outgrowths.Poor blood supply and immobility due to pain accelerate the development of pathology.As a result, the patient receives a whole “bouquet” of unpleasant symptoms:
- Sharp pain (“lumbago”)
- Visual and hearing impairments.
- Dizziness.
- Changes in intracranial pressure.
- Fainting.
- Attacks of nausea.
- Restricted mobility in the neck area.
Medications can reduce inflammation and pain.But they are not able to free the pinched nerve roots and blood vessels, set the intervertebral discs in the correct position and restore mobility.Only special exercises can do this.Therefore, therapeutic exercises are the most important component of the treatment of osteochondrosis.
Indications for the use of gymnastics
Therapeutic exercises are useful at any stage of osteochondrosis (this disease has four of them).However, it gives noticeable results only in the early stages.The presence of the disease and its stage are determined by the doctor.The reason for undergoing examination and performing therapeutic exercises should be any of the above symptoms, as well as a crunch in the neck when moving.
Previously, cervical osteochondrosis was considered a disease of people of mature age (from 40-45 years), but in recent years it has sharply become “younger” and is found even in adolescents.The reason is prolonged immobile sitting at a computer or at a table.Therefore, even healthy young people would do well to study a set of exercises indicated for cervical osteochondrosis and perform them for prevention purposes.You don’t need any equipment or sportswear for this; you can do it during your lunch break or instead of a “smoke break.”
Contraindications to therapeutic exercises
This does not mean that physical therapy can be done whenever and by anyone.Osteochondrosis can be in the acute, subacute and remission stages.The acute stage is characterized by the obvious manifestation of several symptoms of the disease (they occur in different sets in different people) and, necessarily, severe pain when moving.
At the acute stage of osteochondrosis, it is necessary to relieve pain and inflammation with the help of medications (prescribed by a doctor) and physiotherapeutic procedures in the clinic.Doing physical exercise is strictly contraindicated.
Only at the subacute stage can you start doing gymnastics.When moving the neck, there should be no sharp pain, dizziness, “flies” before the eyes, or tinnitus.Minor discomfort is acceptable.The following are also contraindications:
- Serious blood pressure disorders.
- Malignant tumors.
- Feverish conditions.
Classes during the remission stage are mandatory (at least 3 times a week).If treatment is started at an early stage, there is a chance that with a conscious attitude towards physical therapy, the acute stage of the disease will not return for many years.
Rules for performing therapeutic exercises
Exercises for patients with cervical osteochondrosis are simple.They represent movements of the head, shoulders and arms.But they should be carried out by adhering to a number of rules.Only in this case will they give results.
- Before starting exercise, the muscles need to be warmed up.The easiest way to do this is through self-massage.
- Movements must be performed with the greatest possible amplitude.It may be small at first, but should increase as you practice.
- Movements should be smooth, without jerking.
- The number of repetitions of each exercise is 5-10 times.If it is symmetrical, repetitions are counted separately in each direction.
- You can do gymnastics while sitting (with your back necessarily resting on the back of a chair or armchair) or standing.The first is even better, so it’s convenient to do gymnastics in the office at your workplace.
- There should be no breaks in classes.The exception is the transition of osteochondrosis to the acute stage or the appearance of a disease accompanied by high fever.
- You should tolerate minor discomfort (mild pain, pulling sensation, crunching), especially at the beginning of classes.But if sharp pain or other severe symptoms of osteochondrosis appear, you should immediately stop exercising and consult a doctor as soon as possible.
Doctors often recommend doing therapeutic exercises always at the same time.Compliance with this rule is desirable, but not mandatory.If for some reason you can’t study at one time, you can do it at different times.It is important not to miss classes at all.
If you do not follow the rules of exercise listed above, gymnastics not only will not help, but can also give the opposite result.An incorrectly performed movement can lead to a pinched nerve or a displaced intervertebral disc.
The main set of exercises for cervical osteochondrosis
Today there are many systems for treating osteochondrosis using physical therapy.You can make the choice yourself or on the advice of a doctor - all systems give results.There are also several basic exercises included in almost all complexes.
- Tilts of the head to the shoulders.
- Turns to the sides (in this case, you need to pull your chin to your shoulder).
- Turn to the sides while simultaneously placing your palm on the opposite shoulder.
- Bends back and forth.It’s good if, when tilting back, your head presses on the headrest of a chair or chair, overcoming a slight resistance.
- Raising and lowering shoulders.
- Tilts the head to the shoulder while simultaneously raising the other shoulder.
- Stretching the neck forward and moving it back (called “chick peeking out of the nest”).
- Stretching the neck forward followed by turning the head to the side (called “goose”).
- Tilts and turns of the head to the sides with the arms raised and brought together above the head (called “fakir”).
- Stretching the neck forward and upward while simultaneously moving straight arms behind the back (called “seagull”).
Also, patients with osteochondrosis are recommended to tilt the head to the sides and forward, as well as turn to the sides with a very small amplitude.The number of repetitions in such cases should be greater (at least 10 times).These exercises are sometimes called "ay-ay-ay", "yes-yes" and "no-no".They are especially recommended for those who have the so-called “widow’s hump” (also known as “housewife’s hump”) - swelling in the area of the 7th cervical vertebra.
It is better if the first few classes are conducted under the guidance of a specialist in physical therapy.He will teach you how to perform the exercises correctly, and then the patient will be able to do it himself.If it is difficult to get to such a specialist, you can use the video tutorial.
Completing such a complex (in compliance with all the rules) will require no more than 20 minutes.So it’s obvious that it’s better to start exercising quickly than to endure all the troubles in store for patients with cervical osteochondrosis.
Osteochondrosis of the neck is a disease that a doctor cannot cure.He cannot do without the active participation of the patient in the treatment process.But, if you start doing therapeutic exercises on time, you can avoid the unpleasant manifestations of osteochondrosis for a long time.