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 eliminate a significant part of the symptoms.Only physical therapy can help with this.
Prescription of therapeutic exercises for osteochondrosis
Osteochondrosis is the degeneration of the bone and cartilaginous tissues (intervertebral discs) 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, the nerve endings are compressed, the blood vessels that run along the spine are compressed, and the surrounding tissues are damaged by the 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:
- Acute pain (“low back pain”)
- Visual and hearing difficulties.
- Dizziness.
- Changes in intracranial pressure.
- Fainting.
- Attacks of nausea.
- Limited mobility in the neck area.
Medications can reduce inflammation and pain.But they are unable to free the pinched nerve roots and blood vessels, position 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 initial 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 during movement.
Previously, cervical osteochondrosis was considered a disease of people of mature age (from 40 to 45 years), but in recent years it has sharply become "younger" and is also found in adolescents.The reason is prolonged immobility sitting at the computer or 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 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 performed always and by anyone.Osteochondrosis can be in the acute, subacute and remission stages.The acute stage is characterized by the obvious manifestation of numerous symptoms of the disease (they occur in different groups in different people) and, necessarily, severe pain during movement.
In the acute phase of osteochondrosis, it is necessary to relieve pain and inflammation with the help of drugs (prescribed by a doctor) and physiotherapeutic procedures in the clinic.Exercising is strictly contraindicated.
Only in the subacute phase can you start doing gymnastics.When moving the neck, there should be no sharp pains, dizziness, "flies" before the eyes or tinnitus.Mild discomfort is acceptable.There are also contraindications:
- Severe blood pressure disorders.
- Malignant tumors.
- Feverish conditions.
Classes during the remission phase are mandatory (at least 3 times a week).If treatment is started at an early stage, there is a possibility 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 performed according to a set of rules.Only in this case will they give results.
- Before starting the exercise, the muscles must 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 it should increase as you practice.
- Movements should be smooth, without jerks.
- The number of repetitions of each exercise is 5-10 times.If it is symmetrical, the repetitions are counted separately in each direction.
- You can do gymnastics while sitting (with your back necessarily leaning against the back of a chair or armchair) or standing.The first is even better, so it is convenient to do office gymnastics at the workplace.
- There should be no interruptions in lessons.The exception is the transition of osteochondrosis to the acute stage or the appearance of a disease accompanied by high fever.
- You should tolerate mild discomfort (slight pain, pulling sensation, crunching), especially at the beginning of classes.But if sharp pains or other serious symptoms of osteochondrosis appear, you should stop exercising immediately and consult a doctor as soon as possible.
Doctors often recommend performing therapeutic exercises at the same time.Compliance with this rule is desirable, but not mandatory.If for some reason you cannot study at once, you can do it at different times.It is important not to miss lessons at all.
If you do not follow the exercise rules listed above, gymnastics not only will not help, but can even give the opposite result.An incorrectly performed movement can cause compression of a nerve or displacement of the intervertebral disc.
The main series 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.
- Head tilts towards shoulders.
- He turns to the side (in this case, you need to put your chin on your shoulder).
- Turn sideways while simultaneously placing the palm of your hand on the opposite shoulder.
- It bends back and forth.It's okay if, when you lean back, your head presses on the headrest of a chair or chair, overcoming a slight resistance.
- Raise and lower your shoulders.
- Tilt your head towards your shoulder while simultaneously lifting your other shoulder.
- Stretch the neck forward and move it backwards (called “chick peeking out of the nest”).
- Stretching of the neck forward followed by a rotation of the head to the side (called “goose”).
- Tilt and turn your head to the sides with your arms raised and together above your head (called “fakir”).
- Stretch your neck forward and upward while simultaneously moving your arms straight behind your back (called “seagull”).
In addition, patients with osteochondrosis are recommended to tilt their head sideways and forward, as well as turn sideways with a very small amplitude.The number of repetitions in these 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 lessons take place under the guidance of a physiotherapy specialist.He will teach you how to perform the exercises correctly and then the patient will be able to do it on his own.If it is difficult to reach such a specialist, you can use the video tutorial.
Completion of such a complex (in compliance with all the rules) will take no more than 20 minutes.So it is obvious that it is better to start physical activity quickly than to endure all the problems that await patients with cervical osteochondrosis.
Neck osteochondrosis is a disease that a doctor cannot cure.It 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.