Cervical osteochondrosis is a common disease that causes a number of unpleasant symptoms and significantly impairs quality of life. It is almost impossible to cure without surgery. But it can stop the process from progressing and get rid of a significant portion of the symptoms. Only physiotherapy can help.
Appointment of therapeutic practices for osteochondrosis
Osteochondrosis is a degeneration of the bones and cartilage of the spine (intervertebral discs). As a result, its plates deform, bulge between the vertebrae, and growths form on the body of the vertebrae.
As a result, nerve endings are pinched, blood vessels along the spine are pinched, and surrounding tissues are damaged by bone outgrowths. Poor blood supply and immobility due to pain accelerate the development of the pathology. As a result, the patient receives a whole "bunch" of unpleasant symptoms:
- Sharp pains ("lumbago")
- Visual and hearing impairment.
- Dizziness.
- Changes in intracranial pressure.
- Faint.
- Nausea attacks.
- Mobility is limited in the neck.
Medications can reduce inflammation and pain. But they cannot release the retained nerve roots and blood vessels, position the intervertebral discs in the right position, and restore mobility. You can only do special exercises. Therefore, therapeutic practices are the most important components in the treatment of osteochondrosis.
Indications for the use of gymnastics
Therapeutic practices are useful at any stage of osteochondrosis (there are four in this disease). However, it only gives noticeable results at an early stage. The presence and stage of the disease is determined by your doctor. The reason for passing the test and performing therapeutic exercises is any of the symptoms listed above, as well as cracking of the neck during movement.
In the past, osteochondrosis of the neck was considered to be a disease of mature people (40-45 years old), but in recent years it has been dramatically "younger" and even occurs in adolescence. it also doesn’t hurt to study the exercises shown for cervical osteochondrosis and do it for prevention. You don’t need equipment and sportswear to do this, you can do it at lunchtime or instead of a "smoke break".
Contraindications to therapeutic practices
This does not mean that physiotherapy exercises can be performed at any time and by anyone. Osteochondrosis can be in the acute stage, subacute, and remission. The acute stage is characterized by a clear manifestation of many of the symptoms of the disease (occurring in different sets in different people) and, of course, severe movement pain.
In the acute stage of osteochondrosis, pain and inflammation should be removed with the help of medications (to be prescribed by a doctor) and physiotherapy procedures at the clinic. Physical education is strictly contraindicated.
You can only start gymnastics in the subacute stage. When moving the neck there should be no sharp pain, dizziness, "flies" in front of the eyes, noise in the ears. Minor inconveniences are acceptable. Also contraindicated:
- Severe blood pressure problems.
- Malignant tumors.
- Febrile conditions.
Classes are required during the remission phase (at least 3 times a week). If treatment is started at an early stage, there is a chance that with a conscious attitude towards physiotherapy practices, the acute stage of the disease will not return for years.
Rules for conducting therapeutic exercises
The practices for patients with cervical osteochondrosis are simple. These are the movements of the head, shoulders and arms. But these must be done by following a number of rules. Only then will they give results.
- The muscles must be warmed up before starting the workout. The easiest way to do this is with a self-massage.
- The movements should be performed with the largest possible amplitude. It may be small at first, but it should grow as development progresses.
- The movements should be smooth, without jerks.
- The number of repetitions for each exercise is 5-10. If symmetric, the repetitions in each direction are counted separately.
- You can exercise while sitting (with a mandatory backrest on the back of a chair or armchair) or while standing. The first is even better, so it’s convenient to work out in the office, at work.
- There should be no breaks during classes. Exceptions are the transition to osteochondrosis in the acute stage or the onset of high-temperature disease.
- Minor discomfort (not sharp mild pain, pulling sensation, crackling) should be tolerated, especially at the beginning of the class. But if you have acute pain or other pronounced symptoms of osteochondrosis, stop exercising immediately and see a doctor as soon as possible.
Doctors often recommend that therapeutic exercises be performed at the same time at all times. Adherence to this rule is desirable but not mandatory. If for some reason you can’t do it at the same time, you can do it at different times. It is important not to miss classes at all.
Failure to follow the rules of the classes listed above will not only not help the tournament, but may result in the opposite. Improper movement can lead to pinching of the nerve or displacement of the intervertebral disc.
The main series of exercises for cervical osteochondrosis
Today, there are several systems for treating osteochondrosis using physiotherapy practices. You can make the choice alone or on the advice of a doctor - all systems give results. There are also a number of basic practices that are present in almost every complex.
- Leaning of the head towards the shoulders.
- He turns to the side (in which case he has to pull his chin to his shoulder).
- He turns to the side while placing his palm on the opposite shoulder.
- It can be tilted back and forth. When tilting back, it is good to push the head against the headrest of a chair or chair, overcoming a little resistance.
- Lifting and lowering the shoulders.
- Tilt your head to your shoulder while lifting the other shoulder.
- Stretching the neck forward and pulling it back (called a "chick peeking out of the nest").
- Stretch the neck and then turn the head to the side (called "geese").
- Tilting and turning the head to the side with the arms raised and brought over the head (called a "fakir").
- Stretching the neck forward and upward by simultaneously abducting the straight arms behind the back (called a "seagull").
In addition, patients with osteochondrosis are advised to tilt their heads sideways and forward and to turn sideways with very small amplitudes. The number of repetitions should be higher in such cases (at least 10 times). These practices are sometimes referred to as "ay-ay-y, " "yes-yes, " and "no-no. "It is especially recommended for those who have a so-called "widow's hump" (also known as a "housewife's roller") - swelling around the 7th cervical vertebrae.
It is better to keep the first few hours under the guidance of a physiotherapist. It teaches you to perform the exercises correctly and then the patient can do it himself. If you have a hard time getting to such a professional, you can use the tutorial video.
Implementing such a complex (following all the rules) takes no more than 20 minutes. So obviously - it’s better to start exercises quickly than to endure all the worries of patients with cervical osteochondrosis.
Cervical osteochondrosis is a disease that your doctor cannot cure. Without the active participation of the patient in the treatment process, he cannot do so. But if you start therapeutic exercises in time, you can avoid the unpleasant manifestations of osteochondrosis for a long time.