Sport with a facet arthrosis | Physiotherapy for facet arthrosis in the cervical spine

Sport with a facet arthrosis

In facet arthrosis it is important to mobilize and move the affected joints, but not to overstrain them. Sports that involve jerky movements or jumps that put strain on the cervical spine should either be avoided or should be performed with caution. Ball sports such as badminton, badminton or tennis also place a great deal of strain on the cervical spine, due to the fact that the gaze is often directed strongly upwards.

Swimming in the breaststroke also puts a lot of strain on the cervical spine. It can lead to increased stress on the joints or even compression of the neural structures, which causes pain and promotes the development of arthrosis. If the cervical spine is secured by regular stabilizing strength training and can be protected against overloading during sports, sports can also be performed with facet arthrosis. All strains that subsequently lead to increased pain should be considered or avoided. Adapted, pain-free movement supports the supply of cartilage and joint mobility and thus counteracts arthrosis.

Surgery for the treatment of facet arthrosis in the cervical spine

In severe cases of facet arthrosis, where pain or nerve compressions resistant to therapy occur, surgery may be necessary. In addition to minimally invasive procedures such as injections or sclerotherapy of nerves using thermal probes, larger operations can also be performed to restore freedom from pain. Spinal stiffening completely cancels out the mobility of the affected segments, thereby eliminating the irritation of the joints. There are also supporting surgical techniques. Here, the vertebral bodies are supported by certain implants in such a way that the space between the vertebrae remains large enough to avoid excessive pressure on the facet joints.

Summary

In addition to the degeneration of the intervertebral disc, facet arthrosis is a frequent cause of back pain. In the cervical spine, it can manifest itself through limited head mobility or pain in the shoulder, neck or even arm area. The cause is usually long-term poor posture and overloading of the joints, e.g. due to instability of the cervical spine.

The therapy is usually conservative and includes physiotherapy and medication. Injections or the sclerotherapy of nerves can relieve pain. Surgical procedures are also possible in case of therapy-resistant symptoms. Blockages and neck pain are common symptoms of facet arthrosis.