Cervical spondylosis is actually not a terrifying condition. With timely rehabilitation treatment, one can regain health.

Due to changes in lifestyle and increased work pressure, many people tend to lower their heads for long periods while reading or working. As a result, cervical spondylosis is showing a trend of affecting younger people. Moreover, the cervical spine can develop problems not only when maintaining a fixed position for a long time but also when it has a large range of motion, as it is prone to excessive minor traumas and strains, which may lead to cervical spondylosis. The term “cervical spondylosis” we often use is a general concept. Specifically, it can be divided into the following five types:

1. Nerve root type cervical spondylosis: The intervertebral disc of the cervical spine undergoes degenerative changes or is irritated by bone spurs, compressing the spinal nerve roots and causing sensory and motor disorders in the upper limbs. Common symptoms include numbness in the upper limbs.
2. Spinal cord type cervical spondylosis: Narrowing of the cervical spinal canal can compress and cause ischemia in the spinal cord. Compression and ischemia of the spinal cord lead to disorders in its conduction function. The main symptoms are unsteady walking, a feeling of stepping on cotton, and difficulties in urination and defecation.
3. Vertebral artery type cervical spondylosis: This type occurs when changes and irritation in the uncovertebral joints compress the vertebral artery, resulting in insufficient blood supply in the vertebrobasilar artery. Symptoms usually include dizziness and temporary visual impairment, and these symptoms are often related to poor neck movements.
4. Cervical type cervical spondylosis: Also known as local cervical spondylosis, it refers to pain and corresponding tender points in areas such as the head, shoulders, neck, and arms of patients. Although obvious degenerative changes like intervertebral disc space narrowing may not be shown on X – rays, the physiological curvature of the patient’s cervical spine may have changed, and symptoms such as intervertebral instability and mild bone spurs may also occur.
5. Sympathetic nerve type cervical spondylosis: When the intervertebral disc of the cervical spine becomes diseased, it compresses the cervical sympathetic nerve fibers, causing a series of symptoms related to cervical spondylosis.

In real life, however, the clinical manifestations of cervical spondylosis are very complex, and most cases are of the mixed type. Most patients with cervical spondylosis initially think that they can relieve the symptoms by resting. They don’t pay attention to the condition until the symptoms worsen and become irreversible. By then, the condition has usually affected their work and life, and long – term pain, numbness, and other symptoms can also cause anxiety and insomnia. Therefore, the key to dealing with cervical spondylosis lies in early prevention, early detection, and early control.

What are the Rehabilitation Treatment Options for Cervical Spondylosis?

For many patients with cervical spondylosis, systematic rehabilitation treatment can effectively slow down the progression of the disease, relieve pain and dizziness caused by it, and improve the patient’s quality of life. The specific rehabilitation treatment options are as follows:

1. Drug treatment: Drugs can be used to dilate the patient’s blood vessels, improve blood circulation in the brain, and reduce local inflammation, which helps relieve neck pain and relax neck muscles.
2. Exercise treatment: Exercise can correct patients’ poor postures and strengthen the muscle strength and stability of the neck. Here are some exercises for cervical spondylosis rehabilitation:
   • Neck range – of – motion training:
     • Sit or stand and relax the neck.
     • Perform neck movements of forward – backward flexion, left – right lateral flexion, and rotation (clockwise and counter – clockwise), repeating each direction 10 – 15 times.
     • Extend the right upper limb backward, bend the elbow, and keep the back of the hand close to the waist. Rotate the head to the left to the maximum extent, then turn the palm of the right hand and push to the left to the maximum amplitude. Alternate sides and repeat each direction 10 – 15 times.
   • Neck muscle strength training:
     • Sit or stand and relax the neck.
     • Cross the hands behind the head, lower the head slightly. Then, open the elbows to both sides, raise the head forcefully, and at the same time, the hands push forward to resist the head from tilting backward. Repeat 10 times.
     • Support the lower jaw with both palms, lower the head forcefully to press down the lower jaw, while the palms resist the lower jaw from moving down. Then relax and repeat 10 times.
     • Lower the head and hunch the back, cross the hands behind the back, bend the elbows halfway with the palms facing up. Then, straighten the back and extend the elbows forcefully, turn the palms downward, and stretch the back of the neck upward, feeling the muscles at the back of the neck tighten. Repeat 10 times.
3. Physical factor treatment: Physical factor treatment mainly includes neck traction, cerebral circulation therapy, low – frequency wave therapy, medium – frequency and high – frequency treatments, etc. The main purpose is to relieve the tension of neck muscles and soft tissues, adjust the imbalance of neck muscle groups, relieve pain and numbness caused by cervical spondylosis, improve the cerebral blood circulation of patients with insufficient cerebral blood supply, and relieve dizziness in such patients.

Prevention of Cervical Spondylosis is Crucial

For the health of ourselves and others, preventing cervical spondylosis is urgent. In daily life, we can prevent cervical spondylosis through the following methods:

1. Correct bad learning and working habits. It is not advisable to work at a desk for long periods. People who sit for a long time should get up and do some appropriate activities every hour, such as the neck exercises mentioned above.
2. Avoid bad postures that increase the burden on the neck. People who often use computers can adjust the height of the display to eye level, correct the habit of using high pillows for sleeping, avoid tilting the head and shrugging shoulders when talking, and try to avoid dozing off in a moving vehicle.
3. Since long – term exposure to air – conditioners and electric fans can easily trigger and exacerbate cervical spondylosis, both patients with cervical spondylosis and those without should keep their shoulders and necks warm.
4. If experiencing severe dizziness, try to reduce the frequency of turning the head to the side where the dizziness occurs to avoid increasing the degree of blood vessel compression.