What do a programmer, an accountant and an artist have in common?Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine!This disease significantly impairs a person's quality of life and performance.Prolonged static or uncomfortable position of the head causes changes in the bone tissue of the cervical vertebrae.Many patients with cervical osteochondrosis of the spine first complain of pain, dizziness and limited movement in the neck.But no less, there is pain or numbness in various parts of the chest, arms, tinnitus, nausea and the so-called cervical syndrome.
Other manifestations (symptoms) of cervical osteochondrosis are also possible: when dizzy or bent with legs, dizziness and even weakness, sometimes feeling pain and fatigue, feeling weak and tired, tilting the head or fainting.Osteochondrosis of the spine is associated with degenerative-dystrophic damage to the intervertebral discs, which lose elasticity and can be destroyed.Often, salts are deposited in the area of intervertebral discs and bone growths are formed, causing pain due to nerve roots.
What is osteochondrosis?
There are different forms of this disease:
- Cervical;
- Cervicothoracic;
- Lumbosacral.
Consider cervical osteochondrosis.
Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine- a progressive disease representing degenerative-dystrophic diseases
intervertebral discs of the cervical spine.
Osteochondrosis of the neck is the most dangerous type of the disease.The cervical spine consists of seven discs and is the most mobile part of the lower back, which allows the head to bend and turn.It has a relatively weak muscle corset.At the same time, the presence of the cervical spine with constant physical activity (the need to support the head, turn the controls and support bending), explains the high sensitivity of this part to both injuries and degenerative changes that are useochondrosis.
In the small cervical region there are many nerve channels and blood vessels that supply the brain.In the cervical region, the vertebrae are more aligned with each other.Therefore, even
A small change in one of the vertebrae causes compression or displacement of nerves and blood vessels.Cerebral circulatory disorders, migraines, vegetative-vascular dystonia and hypertension, cardiovascular and respiratory systems, hearing, vision and coordination problems occur.In advanced form, cervical osteochondrosis can cause vertebral artery syndrome.The vertebral artery supplies blood to the medulla oblongata and cerebellum.When the artery is compressed, iSchemia of the brain and spinal cord can develop and a spinal stroke can occur.
Osteochondrosis of the neck causes damage to the nerve roots - the formation of growths in the spine, partial or complete loss of mobility.The most serious consequence of cervical osteochondrosis is compression of the spinal cord, which can be fatal.If the disease is treated in time, serious consequences can be avoided.
The main reasons for the early development of cervical osteochondrosis:
- Straight legs;
- Unfavorable environmental conditions;
- Sedentary lifestyle;
- Work involving heavy lifting;
- Hereditary (genetic) tendency;
- Metabolic disorders in the body, infections, intoxications;
- Overweight;
- Poor nutrition (lack of microelements, vitamins and fluids);
- Spinal injuries (bruises, fractures);
- Poor posture, curvature of the spine;
- Instability of spinal column segments;
- Work associated with frequent changes in body position (turns, flexion and extension, twisting);
- When standing, sitting, sitting, sitting, sitting, lying down, performing any work that puts stress on the cervical spine and back, lying down, sitting, stretching and heavy objects;
- Excessive physical activity with an underdeveloped musculoskeletal system;
- Nervous tension, stress;
- Hypothermia;
- Using the wrong pillows while sleeping.
Why do you need orthopedic pillows?
An orthopedic pillow for cervical osteochondrosis is an indispensable thing, because it allows complete relaxation of muscle fibers and avoids pinching of blood vessels, which causes poor circulation.What are orthopedic pillows like?Here are its symptoms:
- The presence of an anatomical shape (a roll or roll, a special break for the shoulder);
- Flexibility of the material;
- The ability to maintain its shape for a long time;
- Safe and hypoallergenic materials.
Let me explain a little.
- The cervical pillow carefully supports the head and provides proper support for the cervical vertebrae.The orthopedic pillow has 2 bolsters of different heights
Different body positions are suitable for both back and side sleeping.A group of experts designed a pillow with a notch (one or two) under the shoulder to properly support the neck and head while sleeping.The form with a break for the shoulder helps to find a comfortable position and keep your back straight. - The elasticity of a material is the ability of a material to recover its shape after compression.
- It is very important that after sleeping on a pillow it does not lose its shape, otherwise it will "work"?
- There is nothing to explain about good, safe and hypoallergenic materials.The nose that comes into contact with the pillow should not be obstructed by anything healthy, chemical or harmful to health.Otherwise, at best, we'll wake up with a headache, and at worst, we'll suffer
allergies.By the way, the house mite, the main household allergen, likes to live in ordinary feathers and down pillows.
The first three of these features consist of two materials: polyurethane foam and latex.Latex is well known to you from latex gloves, condoms and nipples.It is obtained from the stem of the Hevea rubber plant, which grows in several places.Therefore, orthopedic pillows made of natural latex on our market are more expensive than polyurethane foam.In addition, latex can cause allergies.That's why we favor polyurethane foam pillows with a "memory effect".It has all four of these properties and, importantly, is cheaper than latex.
Prevention of osteochondrosis
Recommendations:
- Sleeping on an orthopedic memory foam pillow (the choice of pillow is individual);
- Take a hot shower for 10 minutes;
- Swimming, yoga, more walking;
- Avoid sudden head movements;
- Avoid heavy loads on the spine or significantly reduce the number of such activities: running, jumping, intense training in the gym;
- Take a 5-minute break every hour while working on the computer.Walking during breaks, tilting your head and torso in different directions;
- Keep your head and back straight while sitting at a desk or computer;
- Choose chairs and armchairs that support the spine (a square or ring in the shape of a square or ring under the waist, a square or ring in the shape of a ring or a square or ring in the shape of a ring can also be saved for rescue).
Gymnastics for osteochondrosis
These exercises will help both the existing osteochondrosis of the cervical spine and as a preventive measure.For preventive purposes, exercises for cervical osteochondrosis at home in the evenings, but for this it is better to use short breaks from work (this is a recommendation for those who have a sedentary job).Gymnastics for cervical osteochondrosis does not take much time, but it gives a positive result and quite quickly.
Exercise 1.Sit straight, tilt your head back and try to reach your right shoulder with your right ear, then return to the starting position.The exercise is done slowly and smoothly, the muscles are not tense.Do five repetitions for each side.
Exercise 2.Sit up straight, face forward, chin slightly raised.Slowly and smoothly turn your head to the right - as far as possible.Return to the starting position and make the same turn to the left.Repeat 5 times in each direction.
Exercise 3.Put your palm on your forehead and hit your head, the palm should stay in the same place, that is, it should resist the pressure, that is, it should resist the pressure.When pressing with your head, you need to tense your neck muscles.Slowly count to 5 and relax.Repeat 3 times.
Work 4.The exercise is similar to exercise 3, only the palm (or two palms) should be placed behind the head and where you press on the palm.The tension should count to 5 yourself.Repeat 3 times.
Exercise 5.The exercise is similar to exercise 3, but in this case, the right palm should be placed on the right temple and the head should be buried with a cloth.The tension should count to 5 yourself.Repeat 3 times.Then do the same, place your left palm on your left temple - repeat 3 times.
Exercise 6.Sit straight, tilt your head slightly and then slowly back, with tension, continuous resistance, lower your head, press your chin to your chest, lower your head.Repeat 5 times.
Exercise 7.Sit straight, lower your head and slowly turn your head to the right and left - 5 times in each direction.At the same time, the head remains down.
Gymnastics for cervical osteochondrosis, without the support of the head, especially when the neck is tense and painful, it is not necessary to rotate the head without support at these moments.
In severe cases, it is necessary to consult an orthopedic doctor.Medication, massage therapy, and physical therapy may be prescribed.