Cervical osteochondrosis is a common disease that causes many unpleasant symptoms and greatly worsens the 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 bone and cartilage tissues (intervertebral discs) of the spine. As a result, its discs are deformed, swell between the vertebrae, growths are formed on the body of the vertebrae.
As a result, nerve endings are pinched, blood vessels passing along the spine are pinched, and surrounding tissues are damaged by bone growths. Poor blood supply and immobility due to pain accelerate the development of the disease. As a result, the patient receives a whole "bunch" of unpleasant symptoms:
- Sharp pains ("low back pain")
- Visual and hearing impairments.
- Vertigo.
- Changes in intracranial pressure.
- Fainting.
- Attacks of nausea.
- Limited mobility in the neck.
Medicines can reduce inflammation and pain. But they are unable to release the retained nerve roots and blood vessels, set 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 only gives noticeable results in the early stages. The presence of the disease and its stage are determined by the doctor. The reason for passing the examination and performing therapeutic exercises should be any of the symptoms listed above, as well as a crunch in the neck when moving.
Previously, cervical osteochondrosis was considered a disease of people of mature age (40 to 45 years), but in recent years it is dramatically "younger" and also occurs in adolescents. The reason is a prolonged motionless sitting at the computer or at a table. Therefore, even healthy young people do not hurt to study the shown set of exercises for cervical osteochondrosis and perform it for preventive purposes. This does not require any equipment and sports clothing, you can do it at lunchtime or instead of a "smoke break".
Contraindications to therapeutic exercises
This does not mean that physiotherapy exercises can be performed at any time and by anyone. Osteochondrosis can be in the acute, subacute and in remission phases. The acute phase is characterized by a clear manifestation of several symptoms of the disease (they occur in different people in a different set) and, of course, severe pain when moving.
In the acute stage 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 stage can you start exercising. When moving the neck, there should be no sharp pain, dizziness, "flies" in front of the eyes, noise in the ears. Mild discomfort is acceptable. Also contraindicated:
- Severe blood pressure disturbances.
- Malignant tumor.
- Febrile conditions.
Lessons are required in the remission phase (at least 3 times a week). If the treatment is started at an early stage, there is a possibility that with a conscious attitude to physiotherapy exercises, the acute stage of the disease will not return for many years.
Rules for performing therapeutic exercises
The exercises for patients with cervical osteochondrosis are simple. They are movements of the head, shoulders and arms. But they should be carried out, adhering to a number of rules. Only in this case will they give a result.
- Before starting training, the muscles must be warmed up. The simplest way to do this is through self-massage.
- The movements must be performed with the greatest possible amplitude. It may be small at first, but it should increase as you progress.
- The 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 sitting (with mandatory back support on the back of a chair or armchair) or standing. The first is even better, so it is convenient to do gymnastics in the office in the workplace.
- There should be no interruptions in the classroom. An exception is the transition of osteochondrosis to an acute stage or the appearance of a disease accompanied by a high temperature.
- Mild discomfort (non-acute pain, pulling sensation, crunching) should be tolerated, especially at the beginning of classes. But if there is severe 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 all the time. Compliance with 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 skip classes at all.
If you do not follow the rules of the classes listed above, gymnastics will not only not help, but can also give the opposite result. An incorrectly performed movement can lead to pinching of the nerve 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 physiotherapy exercises. The choice can be made on your own or on the advice of a doctor - all systems give results. There are also several basic exercises that are included in almost all complexes.
- Tilts of the head to the shoulders.
- He turns to the side (in this case, you need to bring your chin to your shoulder).
- It turns to the sides with simultaneous application of the palm on the opposite shoulder.
- It tilts back and forth. It is okay if, by leaning back, the head presses on the headrest of a chair or chair, overcoming a slight resistance.
- Raise and lower your shoulders.
- Tilt your head over your shoulder as you lift your other shoulder.
- Stretch the neck forward and pull it back (called "chick peeping out of the nest").
- Stretch your neck forward, followed by turning your head to the side (called a "goose").
- Tilt and turn your head to the sides with your arms raised and gathered above your head (called a "fakir").
- Stretching the neck forward and upward with the simultaneous abduction of the arms straight behind the back (called "seagull").
In addition, patients with osteochondrosis are advised to tilt their head to the sides and forward, as well as to turn to the sides 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 particularly suitable for those who have the so-called "widow's hump" (aka "housewife's roller") - swelling in the region of the 7th cervical vertebra.
It is best that the first lessons be held under the guidance of a physiotherapy specialist. He will teach you how to perform the exercises correctly, and then the patient himself will be able to do it. If it is difficult to reach such a specialist, you can use the video tutorial.
The implementation of such a complex (in compliance with all the rules) will take no more than 20 minutes. So it goes without saying: it is better to start training 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, you can avoid unpleasant manifestations of osteochondrosis for a long time.