Causes/Symptoms
The causes of spinal stenosis of the cervical spine can be changes in the vertebral body. These are partly congenital and partly caused by the aging process. In particular, sports involving an extreme hollow back lead to deformities of the vertebral bodies, including spondylolisthesis.
Poor posture can contribute significantly to a narrowing of the spinal canal. For example, patients with spinal canal stenosis in the cervical spine can relieve their symptoms with certain head postures, while others cause a significant deterioration. The symptoms of spinal canal stenosis in the cervical spine usually change insidiously.
Sudden changes may occur if there is also a herniated disc or bulge. The constriction itself cannot be corrected by exercises, but posture-related symptoms can be worked on by physiotherapeutic exercises. Exercises to relieve existing symptoms are also possible. Spinal stenosis cannot be cured by exercises alone.
Exercises after surgery
After an operation for spinal stenosis of the cervical spine, the neck is often immobilized for some time, for example with a neck brace. During this time the muscles of the neck are not used and become weaker. After movement is allowed again, stabilizing exercises should be performed.
Postural training for the cervical spine is also important. If there has been an incorrect posture before, it is advisable to train it in order to avoid further damage caused by this incorrect load. Physiotherapy begins with gentle movement exercises to mobilize the joints again and can be supplemented by isometric exercises.
Isometric means that the muscles are tensed without the joint moving. This can be done on the head, for example, by placing one hand against a cheek, trying to press the head against the hand, but holding the hand against it so that no movement takes place. Such exercises after an operation can be performed in all directions of movement.After an operation, the small muscles necessary for coordination and stabilization often suffer as well.
These are often not reached by large movements or tension. Coordination training is suitable for this. The head and neck muscles can be trained very well by balance exercises (standing on a therapy spinning top), exercises that demand orientation and reaction (catching a ball under certain conditions) or complicated sequences of movements of the eyes and head.
After an operation, the structures that were previously compressed are exposed again. Failure symptoms in the periphery (for example, of the arms, or gait insecurities) should also be included in the training program to allow the best possible regeneration of the damaged structures.
- Are you looking for information on post-treatment and other exercises? Then this article is for you: OP Spinal Canal Stenosis Cervical Spine – Aftercare
