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 development of the process and get rid of a significant part of the symptoms. Only physical therapy can help with this.
Appointment of therapeutic exercises for osteochondrosis
Osteochondrosis is the degeneration of the bony and cartilaginous tissues (intervertebral discs) of the spine. As a result, their discs are deformed, bulge between the vertebrae, growths form on the body of the vertebrae.
As a result, nerve endings are compressed, blood vessels running along the spine are compressed, and surrounding tissues are injured by bone 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 pains ("lumbago")
- Visual and hearing impairments.
- Vertigo.
- Changes in intracranial pressure.
- faint.
- Attacks of nausea.
- Limited neck mobility.
Medications can reduce inflammation and pain. But they are not able to free the contained nerve roots and blood vessels, put the intervertebral discs in the correct position and restore mobility. Can only special exercises. Therefore, therapeutic exercises are the most important component of osteochondrosis treatment.
Indications for the use of gymnastics
Therapeutic exercises are useful at any stage of osteochondrosis (there are four of them in this disease). However, it gives visible results only in the initial stages. The presence of the disease and its stage are determined by the doctor. The reason for passing the exam and performing therapeutic exercises should be any of the symptoms listed above, as well as a neck crisis when moving.
Previously, cervical osteochondrosis was considered a disease of people of mature age (from 40 to 45 years), but in recent years it has dramatically "younger" and occurs even in teenagers. The reason is sitting still for a long time at a computer or at a table. Therefore, even healthy young people do not hesitate to study the set of exercises indicated for cervical osteochondrosis and perform them for prevention purposes. This doesn't require any equipment and sportswear, you can do it at lunchtime or instead of a "smoking break".
Contraindications to therapeutic exercises
This does not mean that physical therapy exercises can be done at any time and by anyone. Osteochondrosis can be in the acute, subacute and remission phases. The acute phase is characterized by a clear manifestation of various symptoms of the disease (which occur in different people in a different set) and, of course, by severe pain when moving.
In the acute phase of osteochondrosis, it is necessary to remove pain and inflammation with the help of drugs (they will be prescribed by a doctor) and physiotherapy procedures in the clinic. Physical education is strictly contraindicated.
Only in the subacute phase you can start doing gymnastics. When moving the neck, there should be no sharp pain, dizziness, "flies" before the eyes, noise in the ears. Minor discomfort is acceptable. Also contraindicated:
- Severe blood pressure disorders.
- Malignant tumors.
- feverish conditions.
Classes are required in 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 to physical therapy exercises, 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. These are movements of the head, shoulders and arms. But they must be carried out by adhering to a series of rules. Only in this case will they give a result.
- Before starting training, the muscles must be warmed up. The easiest way to do this is through self-massage.
- The movements should be performed with the maximum possible amplitude. It may be small at first, but it should increase as you progress.
- Movements should be smooth, without jerks.
- The number of repetitions of each exercise is 5 to 10 times. If symmetrical, repetitions are counted separately in each direction.
- You can do gymnastics sitting (with mandatory support on the back of a chair or armchair) or standing. The former is even better, so it is convenient to do gymnastics in the office at work.
- There should be no breaks in class. An exception is the transition of osteochondrosis to an acute stage or the appearance of a disease accompanied by high temperature.
- Minor discomfort should be tolerated (mild non-sharp pain, pulling sensation, crunch), especially at the beginning of classes. But if there is a sharp pain or other pronounced symptoms of osteochondrosis, you should immediately stop exercising and see a doctor as soon as possible.
Doctors often recommend doing therapeutic exercises at the same time. Compliance with this rule is desirable, but not mandatory. If for some reason you can't do this at the same time, you can do it at different times. It is important not to miss classes.
If you do not follow the rules of the classes listed above, then gymnastics will not only not help, but it can also give the opposite result. The movement performed incorrectly can lead to nerve compression or displacement of the intervertebral disc.
The main set of exercises for cervical osteochondrosis
Today, there are many systems for treating osteochondrosis with the help of physical therapy exercises. The choice can be made by yourself or on the advice of a doctor - all systems work. There are also several basic exercises that are included in almost every complex.
- Tilts from the head to the shoulders.
- Turn sideways (in this case, you need to pull your chin to your shoulder).
- Turn to the sides with simultaneous application of the palm of the hand to the opposite shoulder.
- Leans back and forth. It is good that, when leaning back, the head presses against the back of a chair or chair, overcoming a slight resistance.
- Raise and lower your shoulders.
- Tilt your head towards the shoulder while lifting the other shoulder.
- Stretching the neck forward and pulling 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 gathered above the head (called "fakir").
- Stretching the neck forward and upward with simultaneous abduction of the arms straight behind the back (called a "seagull").
In addition, patients with osteochondrosis are recommended to tilt the head sideways and forward, as well as rotate sideways with a very small amplitude. The number of repetitions in these cases must 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 roll") - swelling in the region of the 7th cervical vertebra.
It is best that the first classes are carried out 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 himself. If it is difficult to reach an expert, you can use the video tutorial.
The implementation of such a complex (in compliance with all the rules) will not require more than 20 minutes. So it is obvious - it is better to start exercising quickly than to endure all the problems prepared for patients with cervical osteochondrosis.
Osteochondrosis of the neck is a disease that a doctor cannot cure. Without the patient's active participation in the treatment process, he cannot do it. But, if you start doing therapeutic exercises in time, then you can avoid unpleasant manifestations of osteochondrosis for a long time.