Anyone who has experienced arthritis in the neck area knows about the effectiveness of neck exercises. Exercises for arthritis in neck are quite simple and accessible to everyone, at any age. Our article is about cervical arthritis and these exercises.
As people get older, they discover a great deal of physical changes occur in the body that results in pain. Some cause chronic pain. Arthritis is one of these conditions, and neck pain is very common for those who experience arthritis. This is partly due to the fact the discs in the neck dry out, ligaments are not as versatile and rough spots can establish on the bones, resulting in pressure on nerves in the arms and the spinal cord itself. Injuries to the body throughout one’s life can likewise add to this pain and discomfort.
What Does Arthritis in the Neck Usually Refer To?
There are two conditions that fall under the umbrella reference of arthritis. These conditions are rheumatoid arthritis and cervical spondylosis. These conditions result in joint damage, which then leads to pain and discomfort in the patient’s neck.
Cervical Spondylosis
This condition is called cervical osteoarthritis or arthritis of the neck and describes normal changes to the discs, bones and joints of the neck. These changes are the outcome of aging, where spine discs break down or lose fluid. This causes them to be stiff. Middle aged and senior people normally experience this condition, described as arthritis in the neck.
Osteophytes are stimulates or irregular growths that occur on the bones in the neck. This results in constricting of the spinal column’s interior and likewise where the nerves leave the spine, which is called cervical back stenosis.
Sadly, more than 85% of people over age 60 will deal with cervical spondylosis. This means lots of handle pain and tightness in the neck, although there are a lucky few who feel no symptoms at all. These individuals might have the bone stimulates or other manifestations of the condition but do not feel the pain that others deal with as a result.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
This condition is in fact an autoimmune disorder which suggests the body’s tissues are assaulted by its own body immune system. While this condition is more likely to cause pain in the fingers and wrists, it can impact other areas, consisting of causing arthritis in the neck.
The concern that results in rheumatoid arthritis is a painful swelling of the lining of the joints. This causes deformity of those joints and even disintegration of the bones in the area. This condition affects women more often, and can happen at any age -although it tends to cause people after they reach the age of 40.
Arthritis in the Neck: Symptoms to Look Out For
When you are concerned about cervical spondylosis, think about the following as signs to speak with a physician:
- headaches that seem to originate in the neck
- pain in the shoulders and arms
- a grinding sound or feeling when turning one’s neck
- an inability to turn one’s head fully, which can impact everyday activities like driving
Symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis
The symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis might include tender and swollen joints, tightness that is present upon waking and may last for hours, bumps of tissue under the skin on your arms, fever, weight loss and fatigue.
Usually the smaller joints are first affected, specifically those in hands and feet. Later, symptoms may establish to ankles, knees, elbows, hips and shoulders.
Treatment for Arthritis in the Neck
Certain treatments are more effective for one kind of arthritis, rather than the other. Below are some recommended treatments for the different arthritic conditions that cause arthritis in the neck.
For Cervical Spondylosis
- Wearing a cervical collar or otherwise limiting movement of the neck
- Heat therapy
- Ice treatment
- Exercises to enhance one’s posture
- Drugs and pain medications to assist ease the pain and swelling
- Routine appointments with the chiropractic practitioner
- Steroid injections into the neck
- Exercises to strengthen and stretch the neck
For Rheumatoid Arthritis
Treatment of RA is challenging due to the fact that each person deals with the health problem in a different way. Nevertheless, medications to minimize inflammation and help relieve pain prevail. Also, medicine to slow the damage to the joints, rest whenever possible and treatment by a chiropractic physician are recommended. Some individuals gain from using splints and even surgery in some extreme cases.
Exercises for Arthritis in the Neck
- Neck Stretch: Straighten the body and, while keeping it straight, push the neck forward so the throat area is stretched. Tense the neck muscles and hold briefly before going back to center. Then press the head back, raising the chin. Return to center. Repeat this 5 times.
- Neck Turn: While keeping the chin at the same height, turn the head to one side. Do this gently, only slightly causing muscles to tense. Hold for five seconds, then return to center. Repeat with other side. Do this exercise 5 times for each side.
- Neck Drop and Raise: While being in a chair or standing very directly, drop the head forward. Touch chin to chest and hold for 10 seconds. Go back to natural position. Tilt head back slightly and hold for 10 seconds. Ensure to duplicate forward 5 times and likewise to the back 5 times.
- Head Tilt: Sit in a chair. Push left shoulder down while tilting head towards right shoulder. Hold for 5 seconds. Relax. Repeat in opposite instructions, making certain to press down with right shoulder while tilting the head toward the left shoulder. Total five times with each shoulder.
- Shoulder Rolls: While seated, roll both shoulders forward slowly at the same time. Relax. Roll shoulders gradually backwards. Repeat five times in each direction.
