Question: I am 27 years old and have been working out at our local health club for about 20 days. I find that I am really starting to enjoy the workouts, but the x-rays suggest that I have whiplash. I don’t have neck and shoulder pain, so can I continue to go to the health club if I don’t do the workouts that put pressure on my neck? Or should I simply stop going? Answer: Cervical spondylosis is defined as a series of lesions of the cervical vertebrae caused by degeneration of the intervertebral disc, which is a cushion-like structure between the cervical vertebrae. Disc degeneration is considered in most cases to be a normal part of the aging process of the body, as is the resulting osteophyte (cervical spondylosis). The degenerative process can also be accelerated by neck injury or trauma. In fact, the prevalence of cervical spondylosis in people aged 25 and 65 years is 10% and 95%, respectively. Numerous scientific studies have shown us that imaging findings, including radiographs, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and CT scans, often suggest abnormal findings such as osteophytes, disc degeneration, bulging or even herniation, but these patients do not have symptoms of neck and shoulder pain. In fact, the vast majority of people with cervical degeneration do not experience any discomfort. So when you tell me that you have no symptoms of neck and shoulder pain at the age of 27, I am not surprised in the least. When someone over 40 has cervical spondylosis and the lesion is compressing the nerve tissue, symptoms will appear. These include neck and shoulder pain, upper extremity symptoms or even, in more severe cases, spinal cord symptoms. When you experience any of these symptoms, you should see your doctor immediately to check the situation and suspend all fitness exercise until your doctor reaches a conclusion.