Cervical Spondylitis

A very common disorder, normally seen in the elderly from the age of 55 onwards, cervical spondylitis today is increasingly frequent in the younger age group from 35 to 45 years of age. There are several reasons for this

  Causes


This is basically a mechanical disorder.

• Very stiff muscles in the cervical region can, over the years, cause a kinking of the cervical spine to the front.
• Bad posture and lack of exercise to the cervical region are the key factors which are responsible in a majority of the patients.
• Lying in bed with several pillows can affect the alignment of the cervical column, causing a forward inclination.
• Reclining on sofas with the spine hunched and the neck pushed forward is bad for cervical alignment.
• Hunching over the computer for many hours, occupational hazards such as those of a writer, an illustrator or a painter, all cause the spine to be bent forward all the time.
• Positioning the body to the same side during sleep, with the shoulder muscles and the neck compressed, also develops faulty alignment in the cervical spine. In due course the spine is bent, the front surface of the bones and disc are excessively pressurised and damage occurs.
• The so-called executive chairs are ill-designed and push the neck out of alignment. No chair should reach over the head. The level should be up to the shoulder blades so that the chest can stretch over the edge keeping the body upright.

According to survey in India, railway porters carry heavy loads on their heads but they do not suffer from cervical pain (as one would expect) from the heavy load they carry every day. Only in the group of people who never exercise their bodies does this occur most frequently.

  Symptoms


The most common symptom is pain in the neck, worsening with exertion and relieved, in the early stages, by rest. This pain often radiates down to the hand, with the fingers becoming numb due to compression of the nerves. The shoulder area becomes tender and painful. A nodule can form in the muscle due to chronic pressure. The symptoms of cervical cord compression can sometimes be severe. The pain radiates down the right or left arm to the fingers, to the chest and shoulder blades depending on which side the nerve root is involved. It can become continuous, making movements painful and limited. If the cervical vertebrae become unstable, the danger of cord compression is imminent and, in some cases, fusion of the bones may be warranted. But this is rare.

Physiotherapy Management

• Moist heat therapy for 10-15 min.

• Static neck exercises:-

Static Extension

• Static Extension

  Static extension strengthens the muscles on your neck that move your head backward so you are looking upward. To perform the exercise, first stand or sit upright with your head in a neutral position and place your hands behind your head. Then push into your head with your hands and resist with your neck muscles so your head does not move. Hold for five seconds or more, and then relax.

  
  

   Static Flexion

  

  Static Flexion

  Static flexion works on your neck flexor muscles--those that move your head forward so your chin moves toward your chest. Like static extension, to prepare for static flexion, hold your head in a neutral position, but place your hands against your forehead instead of behind your head. Then, to perform the exercise, press your hands into your head and resist with your neck flexors so your head does not move. Hold for at least five seconds before relaxing.

  
  

  Static Lateral Flexion (side flexion)

  

  Static lateral flexion

  Static lateral flexion exercises the muscles that flex your neck from side to side--ear to shoulder. To perform the exercise, from the same starting position and static extension and static flexion, press into either side of your head with your hand on the same side. Then resist the force applied by your hand with your neck muscles so your head remains still. Hold for at least five seconds and then repeat on the opposite side.

  
  

   

  Static Rotation

  

  Static Rotation

  Static rotation strengthens the muscles that rotate your head to either side so your chin moves over your shoulder. To prepare for the exercise, look forward and place your right hand over your right cheek . Then, to perform static rotation, try to turn your head to the left by pushing with your right hand, but resist with your neck muscles so your head remains steady. After holding for five seconds or more, repeat the exercise with your left hand against the left side of your head.

  
  

   Look front and do not move your neck during static neck exercise

  
  

  
  

  Range of Motion Exercises

  Each of the exercises mentioned above can be performed with less manual resistance to allow your head to move through functional ranges of motion. For example, you can perform a flexion exercise by pushing into your forehead and allowing your head to move backward through slight resistance from your neck muscles throughout the movement.