Content
Cervical arthrosis is a type of degenerative disease of the spine that affects the cervical region, which is the neck region, which is more frequent in people over 50 years of age due to the natural wear and tear of the joints that happens as the person it gets older, however it can also happen in people of any age, being mainly related to poor posture.
Due to the wear and tear of the joints in the cervical region, it is common for the person to present some symptoms, such as pain in the neck, stiffness and difficulty to move, being important to consult the orthopedist so that an evaluation can be made and the most appropriate treatment can be indicated, which it can be done with medicine, physiotherapy and, in some cases, surgery.
Symptoms of cervical arthrosis
Symptoms of cervical arthrosis appear as the cervical region degenerates and local inflammation occurs, resulting in the appearance of some symptoms, the main ones being:
- Pain in the neck, which gets worse with movements;
- Tension-type headache;
- Difficulty turning the neck sideways or turning the head up or down;
- Feeling of having "sand" inside the column when moving the neck;
- There may be a sensation of numbness or tingling in the neck, shoulders or arms.
In some cases it is also possible that the neck pain radiates to the shoulders, arms and hands, for example. It is important to consult the orthopedist when symptoms do not improve over time, as it is possible that exams such as X-rays of the spine or magnetic resonance imaging may be performed in order to make the diagnosis and initiate the most appropriate treatment.
How the treatment is done
Treatment for cervical arthrosis should be indicated by the orthopedist according to the symptoms presented and the person's age. It is important that treatment is started as soon as possible to avoid further involvement of the cervical region, and the use of medications to relieve symptoms may initially be indicated by the doctor. In some cases, when the symptoms of cervical arthrosis do not improve with the use of drugs, the medium may indicate surgery and / or physical therapy.
Cervical arthrosis physiotherapy
Physiotherapy for cervical arthrosis is an important part of treatment, as it helps to prevent joint stiffness. Physiotherapy treatment can be done with devices such as ultrasound, laser, short waves and alternating currents, and it is also important to practice muscle strengthening exercises and stretches to keep the involved muscles properly healthy, to avoid postural compensations that can aggravate osteoarthritis. . See more details of physiotherapy for osteoarthritis.