Cervical osteochondrosis is a common disease that causes many unpleasant symptoms and significantly worsens quality of life. It is almost impossible to cure it without surgery. But you can stop the progression of the process and get rid of most of the symptoms. Only physical therapy can help with this.
Appointment of therapeutic exercises for osteochondrosis
Osteochondrosis is a degeneration of bone and cartilage (intervertebral disc) of spinal tissue. As a result, the disc is deformed, bulging between the vertebrae, growths are formed on the vertebral body.
As a result, nerve endings are pinched, blood vessels that pass through the spine are pinched, and surrounding tissue is injured due to bone growth. Poor blood supply and immobility due to pain accelerate the development of pathology. As a result, patients receive a whole "bouquet" of unpleasant symptoms:
- Sharp pain ("lumbago")
- Visual and hearing impairments.
- Vertigo.
- Changes in intracranial pressure.
- Fainted.
- Nausea attacks.
- Limited mobility in the neck.
Medications can reduce inflammation and pain. But they are unable to release the trapped nerve roots and blood vessels, fix the intervertebral disc in the correct position and restore mobility. It can only be special training. Therefore, therapeutic training is the most important component in the treatment of osteochondrosis.
Instructions for the use of gymnastics
Therapeutic exercises are useful at any stage of osteochondrosis (there are four of them in this disease). However, it only gives significant results in the early stages. The presence of the disease and its stage are determined by the doctor. The reason for passing the exam and doing therapeutic exercises should be any of the symptoms listed above, as well as cramps in the neck when moving.
Previously, cervical osteochondrosis was considered a disease of adults (from 40-45 years), but in recent years it is dramatically "younger" and occurs even in adolescents. The reason is prolonged immobility sitting at a computer or at a desk. Therefore, even healthy young people are not painful to study the set of exercises indicated for cervical osteochondrosis and implement them for preventive purposes. This does not require any equipment and sports clothing, you can do it at lunch or instead of a "smoke break".
Contraindications to therapeutic exercises
This does not mean that physiotherapy exercises can be done at any time and by anyone. Osteochondrosis can be in the acute, subacute and in remission stages. The acute stage is characterized by obvious manifestations of several symptoms of the disease (it occurs in different people in different sets) and, of course, by severe pain when moving.
In the acute stage of osteochondrosis, it is necessary to remove the pain and inflammation with the help of medications (they will be prescribed by a doctor) and physiotherapy procedures in the clinic. Physical education is strictly prohibited.
Only at the subacute stage can you start doing gymnastics. When moving the neck, there should be no sharp pain, dizziness, "flying" in front of the eyes, noise in the ears. Minor discomfort is acceptable. Also contraindicated:
- Serious blood pressure disorders.
- Malignant tumor.
- Fever condition.
Classes at the remission stage are required (at least 3 times a week). If treatment is started at an early stage, it is possible that with a conscious attitude to physiotherapy training, the acute stage of the disease will not return for many years.
Rules for performing therapeutic exercises
Training for patients with cervical osteochondrosis is simple. It is the movement of the head, shoulders and arms. But they should be carried out, adhering to some rules. Only in this case they will give results.
- Before starting a workout, the muscles must be warmed up. The easiest way to do this is through self -massage.
- The movement must be performed with the maximum amplitude possible. It may be small at first, but should increase as you progress.
- The movement should be smooth, without jerks.
- The number of repetitions of each exercise is 5-10 times. If it is symmetrical, repetitions are calculated separately in each direction.
- You can do gymnastics while sitting (with mandatory back support behind a chair or armchair) or standing. The first is better, so it's easy to do gymnastics in the office at work.
- There should be no breaks in the classroom. The exception is the transition of osteochondrosis to the acute stage or the appearance of the disease accompanied by high temperature.
- Minor discomfort should be accepted (mild pain that is not sharp, exciting, crunchy sensations), especially at the beginning of class. But if there is a sharp pain or other symptoms of osteochondrosis, you should immediately stop exercising and see a doctor as soon as possible.
Often doctors recommend doing therapeutic exercises always at the same time. Compliance with this rule is desirable, but not required. 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 skip classes at all.
If you do not follow the class rules listed above, gymnastics not only will not help, but can also give the opposite result. Improper movement can cause nerve pinching or displacement of the intervertebral disc.
The main exercise set for cervical osteochondrosis
Today, there are many systems for the treatment of osteochondrosis with the help of physiotherapy training. The choice can be made yourself or on the advice of a doctor - all systems give results. There are also some basic exercises that are included in almost all complexes.
- Tilt your head to your shoulders.
- Turn to the side (in this case, you need to pull your chin to your shoulders).
- Rotate to the side with a simultaneous application of the palms to the opposite shoulders.
- Tilt forward and backward. It is good if, when leaning backwards, the head presses on the headrest of the chair or chair, overcoming a slight resistance.
- Raise and lower the shoulders.
- Tilt your head to your shoulders while lifting the other shoulder.
- Stretch the neck forward and pull it backwards (called a "chick peeking out of the nest").
- Stretch the neck forward, followed by turning the head to the side (called a "goose").
- Tilt and turn the head to the side with the hands raised and united over the head (called the "poor").
- Stretch the neck forward and upward with simultaneous abduction of the arms straight behind the back (called "seagulls").
Also, patients with osteochondrosis are recommended to tilt their head sideways and forward, as well as turn sideways with very small amplitude. The number of repetitions in such cases should be greater (at least 10 times). This exercise is sometimes called "ay-ay-ay", "yes-yes" and "no-no". They are recommended especially for those who have the so -called "widow's hump" (aka "housewife roller") - swelling in the area of the 7th cervical vertebra.
It is better if the first few classes will be held under the guidance of an expert in physical therapy. He will teach you how to do the exercises properly, and then the patient himself will be able to do it. If it is difficult to contact such an expert, you can use a video tutorial.
The implementation of such a complex (compliance with all rules) will require no more than 20 minutes. So obviously - it is better to start exercising quickly than to bear all the problems provided for patients with cervical osteochondrosis.
Osteochondrosis of the neck is a disease that cannot be cured by a doctor. Without the active participation of the patient in the treatment process, he or she cannot do so. But, if you start doing therapeutic exercises on time, you can avoid the unpleasant manifestations of osteochondrosis for a long time.