Cervical Spondylosis Treatment at Physioheal Physiotherapy, Gurgaon

Cervical spondylosis

Symptoms of Cervical Spondylosis: Navigating Discomfort and Flare-Ups

• Flare-ups of symptoms occur periodically.
• Common symptoms encompass neck pain and stiffness.
• Potential pain radiation to regions like the occiput, between the shoulder blades, and upper limbs.
• Retro-orbital or temporal pain.
• Vague sensations of numbness, tingling, or weakness in the upper limbs.
• Occasional dizziness, vertigo, or balance issues.

Causes of Cervical Spondylosis: Unraveling Wear and Tear

• Thinning of intervertebral discs and vertebrae changes.
• Roughening of vertebrae edges.
• Surrounding muscle, ligament, and nerve irritation due to structural alterations.

Diagnosing Cervical Spondylosis: Identifying the Culprit

1. Clinical Signs:
   • Vague tenderness in the affected area.
   • Limited neck mobility.
   • Minor neurological alterations (unless complicated by myelopathy or radiculopathy).
2. Symptoms:
   • Neck pain exacerbated by movement.
   • Referred pain to various regions, including the occiput, between the shoulder blades, and upper limbs.
   • Discomfort patterns like retro-orbital or temporal pain.
   • Cervical stiffness.
   • Occasional numbness, tingling, or weakness in the upper limbs.
   • Episodes of dizziness, vertigo, or imbalance.
   • Rare instances of syncope or migraine triggers.
   • Diagnostic imaging such as X-ray, CT, MRI, and EMG might be employed to confirm the diagnosis if deemed necessary.

Treatment Strategies for Cervical Spondylosis: Navigating Recovery

1. Manual therapy : Manual therapy of the thoracic spine can be used for reduction of pain, improving function, to increase the range of motion and to address the thoracic hypomobility.
2. Thrust manipulation of the thoracic spine could include techniques in a prone, supine, or sitting position based on therapist preference. Also cervical traction can be used as physical therapy to enlarge the neural foramen and reduce the neck stress.
3. Non-thrust manipulation included posterior-anterior (PA) glides in the prone position. The cervical spine techniques could include retractions, rotations, lateral glides in the ULTT1 position, and PA glides. The techniques are chosen based on patient response and centralisation or reduction of symptoms.
4. Postural education includes the alignment of the spine during sitting and standing activities.
5. Thermal therapy provides symptomatic relief only and ultrasound appears to be ineffective.
6. Soft tissue mobilisation was performed on the muscles of the upper quarter with the involved upper extremity positioned in abduction and external rotation to pre-load the neural structures of the upper limb.
7. Home Exercises include cervical retraction, cervical extension, deep cervical flexor strengthening, scapular strengthening, stretching of the chest muscles via isometric contraction of flexor of extensor muscles to encourage the mobility of the neural structures of the upper extremity.
8. Education. The natural history of cervical spondylosis is highly variable, as well as challenging to prevent, given that it is part of the normal aging process. The client should receive training on ways to deter early onset of cervical spondylosis, including maintaining good neck strength and flexibility, leading an active and healthy lifestyle, and preventing neck injuries (e.g., good ergonomics, avoiding prolonged neck extension, proper equipment for contact sports, safe tackling technique, and seatbelt use in automobiles).

Trust in Physioheal Physiotherapy Gurgaon for Optimal Care