Physiotherapy and manual therapy

Physiotherapy is an important part of the conservative therapy of a slipped disc of the cervical spine. The cause of a herniated disc of the cervical spine is usually a permanent incorrect posture and incorrect loading of the head, which leads to tension in the neck muscles and pain. Physiotherapeutic treatments are intended to loosen the tense muscles, strengthen weakened muscle groups, restore a healthy posture of the head and thus also reduce pain.

This is done through targeted exercises in the case of a slipped disc in the cervical spine. These can be done with or without weights under the guidance of a physiotherapist. Special other physiotherapy methods used in the case of a slipped disc in the cervical spine are manual therapy and thermotherapy.

Manual therapy is a procedure that deals with the examination and treatment of functional disorders of various joints. With special hand movements, blocked joints of the cervical spine are to be gently mobilized and a normal sequence of movements is to be restored. This should lead to a reduction of pain.

However, there should be no jerky dislocation manoeuvres of the head, as in rare cases the blood vessels in the neck can be injured. Thermotherapy is also used for a herniated disc in the cervical spine. Thermotherapy is divided into cold and heat therapy.

Heat therapy is particularly helpful in the case of a slipped disc in the cervical spine. Using a heat-generating ultrasound device or warm packs of mud or mud can increase the blood circulation in tense muscle groups. This leads to a loosening of the muscles and a reduction of pain. Physiotherapeutic applications can be used not only for treatment, but also to prevent a new slipped disc in the cervical spine.

Exercises

The conservative therapy of a slipped disc of the cervical spine includes medication and physiotherapy as well as various exercises and sports to strengthen the neck and back muscles. Sports that strengthen the neck and back muscles are swimming, water gymnastics, cycling or hiking. By doing these sports regularly, possible overweight can also be reduced and posture improved.

This will prevent incorrect loading or overloading of the cervical spine in the future and a further slipped disc in the cervical spine can be prevented. Targeted strength training at home can also help strengthen the neck and back muscles. A simple exercise that can be done at home at any time is to pull the shoulders up to the ears in an upright sitting position.

The shoulders should be pulled up for a few seconds and then returned to the starting position in a controlled manner. This exercise should be repeated about five to ten times. Exercises with weights should initially only be performed under supervision, as the wrong execution can lead to a worsening of the symptoms.

To release tension in the neck and back muscles, various stretching exercises can be done at home. A simple exercise for stretching the neck is to tilt the head to the left and then to the right side in an upright sitting or standing position. The head should be held in an inclined position for a few seconds and then switched to the other side. This exercise can be repeated five to ten times. In addition, various relaxation techniques, such as yoga, autogenic training or Jacobsen’s progressive muscle relaxation, can be learned and performed at home to reduce stress and further loosen the muscles.