Cervical osteochondrosis is a common disease that causes many unpleasant symptoms and significantly worsens the quality of life.It is almost impossible to cure 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.
Prescribing therapeutic exercises for osteochondrosis
Osteochondrosis is a degeneration of the bone and cartilage tissue (intervertebral discs) of the spine.As a result, his discs become deformed, protrude between the vertebrae, and growths form on the body of the vertebrae.
As a result, the nerve endings are compressed, the blood vessels passing along the spine are compressed, and the surrounding tissues are injured by bony growths.Poor blood supply and immobility due to pain accelerate the development of the 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.
- Limited mobility in the neck area.
Medicines can reduce inflammation and pain.But they are not able to release the pinched nerve roots and blood vessels, put the intervertebral discs in the right 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 use of gymnastics
Therapeutic exercises are useful at every 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 an examination and performing therapeutic exercises should be any of the above symptoms, as well as a crunching of 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 occurs even in adolescents.The reason is prolonged sitting still in front of 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 preventive purposes.You don't need equipment or sportswear for this;you can do it during your lunch break or instead of a "smoke break".
Contraindications for therapeutic exercises
This does not mean that physical therapy can always be done by everyone.Osteochondrosis can be in an acute, subacute and remission phase.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.
In the acute stage of osteochondrosis, it is necessary to relieve pain and inflammation with the help of drugs (prescribed by a doctor) and physiotherapy procedures in the clinic.Performing physical exercises is strictly contraindicated.
Only in the subacute stage can you start doing gymnastics.When moving the neck, there should be no sharp pain, dizziness, "flies" before the eyes or ringing in the ears.Mild discomfort is acceptable.The following are also contraindications:
- Serious disorders of blood pressure.
- Malignant tumors.
- Feverish conditions.
Classes during the remission stage are mandatory (at least 3 times a week).If treatment begins at an early stage, there is a chance that with a conscious attitude to physiotherapy, 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 must be carried out, observing a number of rules.Only in this case will they give results.
- Before starting the exercises, the muscles should be warmed up.The easiest way to do this is through self-massage.
- The movements should be performed with the greatest possible amplitude.It may be small at first, but should increase as you practice.
- Movements should be smooth, without sudden movements.
- The number of repetitions of each exercise is 5-10 times.If 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 doing.The first is even better, so it is convenient to do gymnastics in the office at your workplace.
- There should be no interruptions in classes.An exception is the transition of osteochondrosis to the acute stage or the appearance of a disease accompanied by high fever.
- You should tolerate slight discomfort (slight pain, pulling sensation, crunching), especially at the beginning of the classes.But if acute 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 all at once, you can do it at different times.It is important not to miss classes at all.
If you do not follow the exercise rules listed above, gymnastics will not only not help, but can also give the opposite result.Improperly performed movement can result in a pinched nerve or displacement of the intervertebral disc.
The main set of exercises for cervical osteochondrosis
Today there are many systems for treating osteochondrosis with physiotherapy.You can make the choice yourself or on the advice of a doctor - all systems work.There are also several basic exercises included in almost all complexes.
- Tilts the head towards the shoulders.
- It turns to the side (in this case, you need to pull your chin to the shoulder).
- Turn to the side while simultaneously placing your palm on the opposite shoulder.
- Bends forward and backward.It is good if, when leaning back, your head presses against the headrest of a chair or chair, overcoming a slight resistance.
- Raise and lower the shoulders.
- Tilts the head toward the shoulder while raising the other shoulder.
- Stretching the neck forward and moving back (called "chicken peeking out of the nest").
- Stretching the neck forward followed by turning the head to the side (called a "goose").
- Tilts and turns of the head to the side with raised and folded hands above the head (called "fakir").
- Stretching the neck forward and up, simultaneously moving straight arms behind the back (called a "seagull").
Also, patients with osteochondrosis are recommended to tilt the head to the side and forward, as well as turn to the side with a very small amplitude.The number of repetitions in such cases should be greater (at least 10 times).These exercises are sometimes called "aye-aye," "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 to conduct the first few classes under the guidance of a physiotherapist.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.
The completion of such a complex (subject to compliance with all the rules) will take no more than 20 minutes.So it is obvious that it is better to start training quickly than to endure all the problems that await patients with cervical osteochondrosis.
Osteochondrosis of the neck is a disease that a doctor cannot cure.He cannot do without the patient's active participation in the treatment process.But if you start doing therapeutic exercises in time, you can avoid the unpleasant manifestations of osteochondrosis for a long time.