LFK: exercises with a hernia of the cervical spine. What should be the gymnastics with a hernia of the cervical spine?

Cervical hernia is one of the most dangerous pathologies caused by a sharp uneven force load on the body. Symptoms of this disease in all patients are almost identical. A person begins to feel pain in the neck, head and upper limbs, starting from the forearm, ending with the fingers on his hands.

Signs of a hernia

First of all, patients have symptoms of tingling and numbness throughout the back. Hernia in the cervical spine can make itself felt and suddenly. Characteristic for the ailment of pain is often attributed to cervical and thoracic osteochondrosis of the spine. But, unfortunately, the hernia has more serious consequences.

How not to miss a hernia of the cervical spine

First of all, a person has headaches, sleep disorders, tinnitus, loss of orientation, frequent dizziness, even fainting, slowness. The patient becomes inactive because of pain in the cervical spine.

As a result of rupture of the disc (intervertebral cartilage), inflammation of soft tissues occurs, which causes pain and tingling. Due to pressure on the blood vessels of the bursting intervertebral disc, a slowdown in blood circulation occurs. The blood flows slowly into the brain, which can cause even a stroke. The most terrible complication of the hernia of the cervical spine is paralysis of the upper and lower extremities.

Cervical hernia treatment

Treatment of this disease can be not only conservative (the use of medicines to relieve inflammation and muscle tension, to improve the trophism (nutrition) of muscles, exercise, various methods of physiotherapy, etc.), but also surgical (surgical intervention).

Surgical treatment of the hernia of the cervical spine is performed only in complicated cases of the disease, when nothing else helps and paralysis of the limbs begins.

Basics of conservative treatment, exercises

Exercises with a hernia of the cervical spine must necessarily be slow, smooth, without any sudden movements. Otherwise, the pain can intensify.

At the first moment after the onset of the disease, the main ones are measures aimed at returning the cervical disc to its place, that is, it is important to return the spine to the correct position. This should only be handled by a specialist, otherwise there may be unforeseen complications.

All exercises with a hernia of the cervical spine should be carried out under the watchful eye of a physician-physiotherapist or instructor in physiotherapy. Gymnastics, in the first place, should be aimed at strengthening the muscular corset. At the beginning of treatment it is very important to bring the muscles into tonus by dosing the load. And only after a period of recovery can you complicate the exercises, adding new elements. The instructor himself must follow how the patient is engaged, and only with his permission can continue the gym yourself at home.

Exercises for cervical hernia are very diverse. They can be performed sitting on a chair and on the floor or lying on a hard couch, as well as standing up. Do not do anything on a soft sofa or bed. This situation can lead to increased pain.

Exercises with a hernia of the cervical spine

The first movements are performed in a sitting position on a chair at the table. An obligatory condition must be the position of the hands. They must lie on the table, rest on elbows.
1. Lift the shoulders up and slowly pull the muscles of the neck, forearms, the head behind them, then also slowly lower the hangers and, accordingly, pull the same muscles behind them. The number of repetitions each time will depend on the strength of the pain (if it is sharp, then 2-3 repetitions suffice, if you do not feel any unpleasant sensations, then at least 10-15 repetitions should be done).

2. We pull the shoulders forward, feeling the tension of the muscles of the forearms and neck, and then slowly withdraw the shoulders back to the feeling of "mixing" the shoulder blades. The number of repetitions in all exercises is based on the rule of "easy pain." A person should feel pleasant warmth in the muscles.
3. We proceed to circular rotations with shoulders. Very slowly make a circle forward, then circle back. After that, you can increase the tension and the pace with which the patient does the exercise. Slowly, then quickly, then again slowly - and so on 4 repetitions in each direction.

4. We raise arms outstretched as far as possible, trying to bend back, but not touching the back of the chair. It is best to use a chair without a backrest so that there is no desire to relax and rest. Back throughout the session, should be straight. During this exercise, the patient should pull up the neck and head, creating additional tension in the muscles of the cervical region.
5. We bend our head down, and then raise it. Here, the muscles of the neck do not need to be pulled. The head should descend and rise freely, without effort.
6. Turn the head to the right as far as possible. Then turn it to the left. In doing so, we try to pull and stretch the muscles of the neck.
Note that with a hernia of the cervical section, in no case should you make circular head movements. This can complicate the already dangerous situation.

Set of exercises in the supine position

1. The patient lies on his stomach. The hands must be collected in the lock and put under the chin. Elbows bred in the sides. Hands straighten and with all the power to reach upward, while chin with a force to pull down. The body and stomach should not be lifted.
2. Put your hands on your waist, then lift your head and shoulders. Do not tear off the abdomen from the floor to hold out in this position for a few seconds.
3. Hands from the belt as slowly as possible to translate into the sides, and then also slowly transfer them to the shoulders.

In exercises with a hernia of the cervical spine, it is necessary to include walking along the tracks, which must first be very wide, and then gradually narrow. At this point, you need to lower your head down and, straining the muscles of your back and neck, follow the narrowing of the path. Also for these purposes you can use a narrow bench.

How to avoid complications

Gymnastics with a hernia of the cervical spine, together with massage and other medical products will help prevent the further development of this dangerous disease.

Thanks to a timely diagnosis, surgical intervention can be avoided. With confidence, we can say that exercise therapy in hernia of the cervical spine helps to cope not only with the hernia itself, but it is also one of the best methods to combat any diseases of the spine. These exercises increase the elasticity of the vertebrae, so that the risk of complications during exercise is significantly reduced.