Exercises for the treatment of the cervical spine with spondylosis deformans

Causes of a crunch in the neck when turning

There are 7 vertebrae in the neck , connected to each other by intervertebral discs, joints, muscle tissue, tendons, and nerve fibers. Together they are designed to support the head, turn it, tilt it. The cervical spine also provides nutrition to the brain and its connection to other organs.

The neck has a large number of nerve endings and blood vessels

If the functioning of this related system is disrupted, a crunch in the neck may occur.

He is called:

• excessive motor activity of the joints, especially pronounced in people suffering from underweight;
• dissociation of the muscles that are responsible for the process of flexion and extension of the neck, most often occurs in professional athletes and goes away after the muscles warm up;
• deficiency of fluid in joint tissues, observed in newborns, resolves on its own over time.

These conditions do not cause concern and are a variant of the physiological norm. Treatment in such cases is not required.

Diseases

In some cases, various diseases lead to the appearance of crunching.

Most often, a characteristic sound appears when tilting and turning the neck in such cases:

• calcium metabolism disorder;
• osteochondrosis;
• spondylosis;
• arthrosis;
• curvature of the spine (kyphosis, scoliosis, lordosis, kyphoscoliosis);
• instability of the spine in the cervical region;
• uncovertebral arthrosis;
• spondylolisthesis.

When calcium metabolism is disrupted, calcium salts accumulate in bones, ligaments, and tendons . This causes additional stress on the spine. This provokes the appearance of a functional block, which, when removed, produces a characteristic crunch.

With osteochondrosis, crunching may be accompanied by severe pain . With this degenerative disease, the nutrition of the intervertebral discs and vertebrae is disrupted, and the distance between the bone tissues of the vertebrae decreases. As a result, nerve endings and blood vessels are compressed, and a protrusion or herniation of the intervertebral disc may appear. With these pathologies, patients often experience numbness in the upper extremities, a feeling of “pins and needles”, and a decrease in their sensitivity.

Arthrosis is characterized by the formation of fang-like outgrowths on the vertebrae . In this disease, cartilage becomes thinner and destroyed, and bone tissue and joints are involved in the process. Discomfort appears after a long period of rest; usually, after moderate physical activity, the condition returns to normal.

With spondylosis, bone tissue begins to grow along the edges of the vertebrae . As a result, the cartilage becomes deformed and tears and cracks form in them. As the disease progresses, a hernia may form. Pain and crunching appear after sleep, and at the same time unpleasant sensations arise in the scapular region. As the condition worsens, ringing in the ears, pressure surges, blurred vision and other symptoms occur.

If a patient is diagnosed with spinal instability in the cervical region, this means that subluxations of small joints have appeared . The pathology is accompanied by the appearance of a dull pain in the neck, constant discomfort, which is observed even during a period of rest. If you don't move for a long time, the pain only gets worse.

Uncovertebral arthrosis is characterized by the fact that after sharp turns or lifting heavy objects, a strong crunch is heard in the neck , acute pain and dizziness appear. This degenerative disease affects the small intervertebral joints. In addition, patients may complain of unsteady gait, surges in blood pressure, and pain in the chest.

With spondylolisthesis, the vertebrae move forward , and the connection between the bone tissues of the spine is disrupted. This is a degenerative disease, manifested by the appearance of a characteristic crunch.

Most degenerative changes in the vertebrae of the neck are accompanied by a crunching sound

Other reasons

A crunch does not always indicate serious diseases of the spine.

It may appear when:

• abnormalities in the structure of connective tissues, increased mobility of joints between the vertebrae;
• the formation of osteophytes, growths create obstacles to the proper functioning of the cervical ligaments;
• incorrect posture;
• the formation of air bubbles in the fluid that is located in the intervertebral joints.

Anomalies in the structure of connective tissues and increased mobility of intervertebral joints are observed mainly in children. Such conditions do not require treatment; they go away on their own.

Some people may develop air bubbles in the intervertebral joints . When the neck moves, the joints move, and the bubbles in the fluid begin to burst.

Often a characteristic crunch occurs after a long stay in a position that is unnatural for the neck .
It should not cause concern; its appearance indicates that the vertebrae are in the physiologically correct position.

Spondylolisthesis

Sometimes the neck can crackle due to the development of spondylolisthesis. What it is? The cervical vertebrae are displaced. We are talking about 4 and 5 vertebrae. This phenomenon develops mainly due to the fact that the patient was injured in childhood or the vertebral joints are transformed due to pathology. Anatomical and physiological relationships are distorted. In addition to this, the head spins, and with slight physical exertion, cephalgia appears. At the same time , your arms and shoulders hurt If this is noticed, you should immediately contact a specialist.

Associated symptoms

In some people, a crunch in the cervical spine is not accompanied by other unpleasant sensations.

But many patients complain of the appearance of such symptoms:

• 
  Along with a crunch in the cervical spine, severe pain in the neck area may occur; it can be aching, sharp, or dull;

• pain in the head, which is mainly localized in the occipital region;
• dizziness;
• the appearance of malaise, general weakness;
• nausea, vomiting;
• noise in ears;
• numbness of facial skin;
• jumps in blood pressure levels;
• pain in the scapular region;
• stiffness of movements.

In some patients, discomfort is concentrated in the chest area, so it can be confused with pain in the heart.

If these symptoms appear, especially if they are accompanied by a crunch in the neck, consultation with specialists is necessary. Doctors must examine the patient, establish a presumptive diagnosis, and, if necessary, send for additional examinations.

The problem can be identified using x-rays, ultrasound, computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging.

How are diseases of the cervical spine diagnosed?

Any diagnosis begins with clarifying the conditions for the development of the disease, therefore, for maximum objectivity of doctors’ conclusions, it is important to describe in detail the circumstances of the appearance of symptoms, describe your lifestyle without embellishment, and hide information about injuries, serious illnesses and bad habits. After this, the specialist performs palpation, checking muscle tension, the degree of cartilage mobility and tissue soreness when touched.

In addition, radiography and computed tomography are mandatory. To clarify the diagnosis and assess the general condition of the patient, electrocardiography, ultrasound examination with Doppler, and a puncture of cerebrospinal fluid can be performed. You should approach visiting a chiropractor with caution, since such practice is pseudo-scientific and the positive effect of the intervention has not been confirmed by objective data.

Consequences

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Next fact

To understand why a neck crunch is dangerous, you need to understand the reasons for its occurrence. If it is physiological, caused by the structural features of the spine, then there is no danger. Such people are advised to monitor their condition and if they experience pain, stiffness or other symptoms, consult a doctor immediately.

But often, when complaining of a crunching sound, it is discovered that degenerative-dystrophic processes have begun in the cervical spine. As most diseases progress, pain appears . Unpleasant sensations are caused due to pinched nerve endings, the appearance of bone growths, and activation of inflammatory processes in muscle tissue.

Degenerative-dystrophic processes lead to the destruction of intervertebral discs, protrusions and hernias appear . The height between the bone structures decreases, this provokes compression of the vessels. Deterioration of blood circulation is indicated by numbness of the skin of the face, neck, limbs, dizziness, pain, ringing in the ears, and blurred vision.

Video: “Crunching and clicking when turning the head: accurate diagnosis”

Prevention

In most cases, a neck crunch is the first symptom of a pathology of the upper spinal column.

It is always better to try to prevent the onset of a disease than to treat it later and experience pain.

The most important method of preventing crunching, discomfort, and diseases of the cervical spine is physical activity.

When working for a long time with a load on your neck, it is important to find time for daily exercise and change the position of your head. Swimming is very beneficial for the whole body and the spine in particular. If possible, you should visit the pool once a week.

Particular attention should be paid to nutrition. Food should be rich in protein; it is better to avoid excessive consumption of fatty foods.

Taking a course of massage of the cervical-collar area once a year helps prevent neck diseases.

For this purpose, you can use the Drevmass simulator. The procedure does not take much time. Even without special training, anyone can independently perform a massage with this simulator.

Treatment

If a crunch in the neck is caused by various pathologies of bone and joint tissue, then adequate therapy is necessary. Depending on the situation, the doctor will select medications and may give directions or massage. In cases where the patient complains of unbearable pain, surgical treatment may be recommended.

In the absence of pathologies, doctors advise paying attention to physical activity . Swimming, walking and therapeutic exercises have a beneficial effect on the condition of bone tissue and muscles.

Drugs

To improve the condition and alleviate associated unpleasant symptoms, doctors prescribe such drugs to patients:

Surgery

For a number of degenerative-dystrophic processes accompanied by tightness, severe pain, and impaired mobility, the doctor may recommend surgery. But surgical treatment is prescribed in cases where the condition does not improve with conservative therapy. For complaints only of a crunch in the neck, surgical treatment is not used .

Exercise therapy and massage

If the patient does not have severe pain or an active inflammatory process, then he is prescribed massage and physical therapy . Physical activity and mechanical kneading help strengthen muscles. This allows you to stabilize the position of the vertebrae and forget about the crunch.

When performing massage procedures, specialists relax excessively tight muscles. At the same time, weakened muscles are toned.

Therapeutic gymnastics is designed to knead and strengthen the muscle structures of the neck. If the muscles are in good shape, the vertebrae will be constantly maintained in the correct physiological position.

Several exercises to prevent pathologies in the neck

Treatment at home

In cases where patients do not have severe pain, you can try to get rid of the crunching at home.

Doctors recommend:

• drink enough fluid (at least 2 liters per day);
• diversify your diet, all the necessary elements and vitamins should be supplied to the body from foods;
• perform a set of exercises for the neck (bends, turns, rotations);
• get rid of excess weight;
• increase physical activity.

Strengthening muscles and normalizing blood circulation in tissues located near the spine allows you to get rid of crunching . Such actions prevent the appearance of various pathologies of the spine.