Physiotherapy and Cervical Spondylosis (Cervical Osteoarthritis)

Cervical spondylosis is a condition of the bones, discs and vertebrae in the neck. This condition is common in people above 50 years of age. It is generally caused due to wear and tear of the discs with aging which lose their fluid and become stiffer. It is the most common cause of neck pain in elderly people.

Here’s a great video explaining the cervical spondylosis-

What are the causes of Cervical Spondylosis?

The main cause of this condition is aging. As a person age, there is a lot of wear and tear that happen to the bones, muscles and cartilages in the body. In the neck, the vertebrae dics become less elastic and provide less cushion and support. The bones and ligaments get thicker and put pressure on the spinal canal.

Other factors could be a previous injury to the neck or poor posture. Poor posture plus aging is the biggest contributor to this condition.

Being overweight and leading an inactive lifestyle also are a factor to this condition.

Symptoms of Cervical Spondylosis

Generally there are no significant symptoms in this condition. They can develop gradually or occur suddenly. Some of the symptoms are-

• Neck pain and stiffness. The pain might increase while standing, sitting, sneezing, coughing
• Headache generally in the back of the head
• Numbness and pain in the shoulder and arms
• Inability to fully turn the head or neck
• Grinding noise is sometimes felt while moving the neck

Cervical spondylosis is generally most severe in the mornings. It does improve with rest but flares up again at night.

How can Physiotherapy help?

If you are suffering from Cervical pain, you should get in touch with your physiotherapist immediately. Physiotherapy can not only help relieve the pain but also ensure prevent its recurrence. Normally when a patient suffering from the condition walks into my clinic, we begin with assessing how severe the condition is and what is the range of motion of the neck. Our treatment involves the following processes-

• Relief from pain
• Support to the neck
• Restore full range of motion of the neck
• Posture correction
• Strengthen neck muscles
• Preventing future recurrence

If you are suffering from neck pain and have the above symptoms, please feel free to make an appointment with us and let our team of experienced Physiotherapists take a look at you. The key to quick recovery from Cervical Spondylosis is early diagnosis. You can call us at 905-232-2202 or can also  book an appointment online here.