Is it indispensable to exercise for cervical spondylosis?

  Cervical spondylosis is one of the most prevalent clinical pain disorders. Because it is highly prevalent and not easily curable, many patients are plagued by recurrent symptoms. Exercises for cervical spondylosis are routinely thought of as forward flexion, back extension, lateral flexion, and rotation. But in fact, the exercise method of cervical spondylosis is very elaborate.  First of all, let’s take a look at the structure of the cervical spine, which is made up of seven vertebrae connected by intervertebral discs and ligaments, and is connected to the skull upward and thoracic vertebrae downward, and its main function is to support the role of the head, with a large range of motion, can be forward flexion, back extension, left and right lateral flexion, etc. Many important nerves and blood vessels in the brain are passed through the various parts of the cervical spine and conveyed to all parts of the body. Therefore, different neurovascular symptoms may occur due to physiological changes in various parts of the cervical spine, and different types of cervical spondylosis may develop.  The various types of cervical spondylosis are often closely related to the physiological changes of the intervertebral discs. As the intervertebral disc is burdened by the gravity generated by the uprightness of the person and the tension in all directions generated by the neck activity for a long time, coupled with the gradual decrease of the water content in the cartilage with age, it will cause the rupture or protrusion of the nucleus pulposus in the fibrous ring and create instability, and the protrusion of cartilage and ligamentous laxity or long-term instability will stimulate the proliferation of bone spurs in the hook vertebral joint, which is the same as the physiology of skin aging and the appearance of laxity and wrinkles. The protruding disc and the proliferating bone spur can easily compress the nerve root, cervical spinal cord, vertebral artery or sympathetic nerve or be “stuck”, thus triggering the following kinds of problems: when the nerve root in charge of activity and sensation is compressed or stimulated, there will be neck and shoulder, upper limb pain, hand numbness, muscle weakness and other nerve root type cervical spondylosis When the vertebral artery is compressed, it will cause dizziness, tinnitus, blurred vision, hearing impairment and other vertebral artery symptoms; if the sympathetic nerve, which controls the human heart and heart rhythm, is compressed or stimulated, sympathetic nerve discomfort such as sweating, panic, cold hands and feet will occur. If the spinal cord is compressed, it may show stiffness, abnormal sensation and difficulty in movement. Severe spinal cord-type cervical spondylosis can even lead to paralysis.  This means that different lesions involve different parts of the body and correspondingly different symptoms appear, making cervical spondylosis symptoms intricate and complex. In addition, the worsening of instability or the influence of other joint growths can cause slippage and deformation between the upper and lower cervical vertebrae, which increases the severity of the symptoms and the threat to the nerves. For example, patients with vertebral artery type are prone to vertigo attacks or exacerbation of existing symptoms when they look up, turn sharply, turn their necks sharply, or overflex and overextend their necks.  During the acute attack of cervical spondylosis, it is advisable to rest locally and not to increase the stimulation of movement. However, one should not lie in bed for a long time to avoid changes such as muscle atrophy, tissue and joint adhesions, which may affect the recovery of cervical spondylosis. Therefore, while waiting for the patient’s acute symptoms to improve, the muscle strength around the patient’s cervical spine should be trained, because maintaining considerable muscle strength in these muscles can have a stabilizing effect on the cervical spine.  A simple and safe cervical spine exercise method is recommended: take a standing or sitting position with your hands crossed firmly against the occiput behind your head. The head and neck is stretched back with force, and the hands are blocked with force, continuing to confront for a few seconds and then restore. Do it 6 to 8 times in total. Another method is: take a standing or sitting position, the two hands in the back of the head occipital hold each other, forearms clamping both sides of the neck. Head and neck force left, while the left forearm force to block it, continue to resist for a few seconds after relaxing to restore, and then do the opposite direction. Each do 6 to 8 times. These actions although the head did not move, but through the battle of forces in all directions so that the corresponding neck muscles to contract. Scientific studies have found that sustained muscle contraction for 5 seconds is very good for the neck. And in the case of neck problems, this exercise has a very good protective effect on the neck. In addition, various outdoor exercises, such as swimming and badminton, will also strengthen the neck muscles and keep the neck in good condition. Note that the movements should be slow and smooth, and the force should be light to heavy, so that the muscles and ligaments are fully straightened, but to the extent that they do not cause significant pain.  Therefore, the exercise of cervical spondylosis is concerned with the individual, avoid inappropriate physical exercise, more than the neck endurance of the exercise is easy to cause trauma, so the head and neck practice should be careful, not brutal practice. Exercise is contraindicated when there are more obvious or progressive spinal cord compression symptoms, especially cervical backward movement should be contraindicated. In the early stage of vertebral artery type cervical spondylosis, the rotation of the neck should be gentle and slow, and the amplitude should be controlled appropriately. Neck rotation, especially encircling movement, is contraindicated for people with heavy vertigo symptoms.