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CERVICAL SPONDYLOSIS

WHAT IS CERVICAL SPONDYLOSIS?

Cervical Spondylosis is a common, age related condition that affects the joints and disc in your cervical spine. It is a condition that causes deterioration of the vertebrae, discs and ligaments in the neck or cervical spine.
Other names are arthritis of the neck, cervical osteoarthritis, or degenerative osteoarthritis.
In cervical spondylosis , the edges of the vertebrae often develop bone spurs called osteophytes. over time the discs get thinner, and their ability to absorb shock is lost , increasing the risk of symptoms.
It develops from the wear and tear of cartilage and bones, while it's largely the result of age, it can be caused by other factor as well.

                   To see this video  Just click on that to get the Isometric exercise for neck 



CAUSES:

BONE SPURS :

These overgrowths of the bone are the result of the body trying to grow extra bone , however the extra bone can press on delicate areas of the spine such as the spinal cord and nerves which results in pain.

DEHYDRATED SPINAL DISCS:

Spinal bones have discs between them which are thick , padlike cushions that absorb the shock of lifting , twisting , and other activities.
The gel like material inside these discs can dry out over time. This cause your bones to rub together more which can be painful.

HERNIATED DISCS:

Spinal discs can develop cracks, which allows leakage of the internal cushioning material. This material can press the spinal cord and nerves resulting in symptoms such as numbness as well as pain that radiates down the arm.

INJURY:

If having an head injury to your neck during a fall or car accident this can accelerate the aging process.

LIGAMENT STIFFNESS:

The cords that connects the spinal bones to each other can become even stiff over time which affects your neck movement and makes the neck feel tight.

OVERUSE:

Some occupations or hobbies involve repetitive movements or heavy lifting such as of costruction workers they can put extra pressure on the soine which results in early wear and tear.


SYMPTOMS:
The symptoms can range from mild to severe and may develop gradually or occur suddenly.
One common symptom is pain around the shoulder blade. Some complains of pain along the arm and in the fingers.
The pain might increase when:
  • Standing
  • Sitting
  • Sneezing
  • Coughing
  • Tilting your neck backward.
Other common signs include:
  • A stiff neck that becomes worse
  • Headache that mostly occur in the back of the head
  • Tingling or numbness that mainly affects the shoulder and arms 

DIAGNOSIS:

PHYSICAL EXAMINATION:

  • Testing the reflexes
  • Check the muscle weakness
  • Range of motion of neck
  • Walking pattern also

IMAGING TESTS

  • X-Rays can be used to check for bone spurs and other abnormalities.
  • CT scan. for detailed images of neck.
  • MRI scan to locate pinched nerves.
  • EMG to check the nerves.

TREATMENT

Treatment will focus on providing pain relief, lowering the risk of permanent damage and helping the patient to live a normal life.

PHYSICAL THERAPY:

It helps you to stretch your neck and shoulder muscles. This makes them stronger and ultimately helps to relieve pain. Neck traction is also ver effective. Some isometric exercises are mentioned in this blog through a link.




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