People whose work is connected with a computer may eventually experience headaches, drowsiness, and other unpleasant sensations. Often they prefer to solve this problem by taking pills or drinking coffee. And often this helps, because it can only be associated with a lack of oxygen or poor blood circulation. However, the cause of the described condition may also be osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.
What is this disease?
Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is the proliferation of bone tissue in the vertebrae, leading to dystrophy of the intervertebral discs, impaired ligament integrity, muscle injury, pinching of the nerves, which causes pain and the appearance of intervertebral hernias.
The disease at first worsens periodically, then the pain is felt both in the neck and in other areas. Its symptoms bring considerable discomfort to a person's life. Therefore, it is important that the situation is not brought to a critical state. As soon as signals appear, measures should be taken that begin with a study of the causes of the discomfort.
How to be treated?
Pain in the shoulders and neck, weakness of the muscles of the upper extremities, their periodic numbness, tinnitus, impaired vision and hearing are symptoms that indicate that the patient has developed cervical osteochondrosis. Is it possible to do massage at the same time, depending on the phase of the disease.
So, during exacerbations, the only way to treat is to take medications that help eliminate the causes of osteochondrosis. Well, if you do not feel pain, then do a massage of the cervical spine. They recover after the exacerbation of the disease passes.
In this case, contraindications should be noted, in which the procedure is prohibited:
- pain indicative of an exacerbation phase;
- hypertension;
- cardiovascular failure;
- fever due to infection in the body.
Specialist massage
Massage with osteochondrosis of the cervical spine should be carried out only by a true specialist in their field. It is made in a special chair or on a table. The patient is massaged in the neck, neck, and also the collar zone. The muscles must be relaxed, and the head is tilted forward:
- Massage begins with stroking movements from the back of the head to the shoulders. The strength should be minimal.
- The next movement should resemble a squeeze. It is made with the phalanges of the fingers several times in one, and then the other side.
- After that, the muscles are kneading, as if sorting through the skin. Movements are also made with the phalanges of the fingers in a circle. First, they are performed along the spine, and then go to the sides. The same rubbing is repeated with the pads of the thumbs, doing massage of the shoulder girdle and trapezius muscle.
- At the end of the procedure, neck massage with cervical osteochondrosis is performed with stroking movements. Start from the neck, and then move to the back of the head. Here, fingers make circular movements, squeezing and rubbing the occipital region.
Is it possible to massage with cervical osteochondrosis?
Massage is a great way to treat this disease. Thanks to it, the blood flow to the nerve endings increases, the muscles relax, and the tension is relieved. The spasm also goes away. Therefore, the named procedure for osteochondrosis of the neck is very useful.
But, as they said, it is not always allowed to carry it out. It is necessary to take into account a number of contraindications, which include, in addition to the above, the presence of pain, as well as wounds, rashes and other skin diseases.
When asked whether it is possible to massage with cervical osteochondrosis, it can be said with confidence that it will help best during periods of remission. If it is decided to carry out a course of manual therapy, then it should be done after consultation with your doctor.
In addition to classical massage, with this disease, it is sometimes recommended to carry out alternative procedures that relieve inflammation and promote recovery. These include:
- acupressure;
- the use of a massager;
- the use of honey.
Acupressure
The method is especially suitable during periods of exacerbation, when aching or severe pain is felt. The process consists of pushing fingers on special points that help relieve inflammation, increase blood flow and eliminate pain. Points for pressure are located at some distance from the site of pain. As the pain subsides, the duration of the massage is reduced. The maximum pressure time is five minutes, and then it is reduced to three minutes or less.
Massager
A special apparatus that does neck massage for osteochondrosis of the cervical spine can improve metabolic processes in this area. Currently, there are many devices for this purpose on the market. In accordance with their functions, they have a completely different cost. A cheap device, however, is not necessarily inefficient. A good example is the Kuznetsov applicator, a roller or belt with buckles. Such massagers put on a neck for the night, and in the morning the pain, as a rule, subsides essentially or completely disappears.
However, you should not start using this or that device without first consulting your doctor. It is better to consult with him which model to choose.
Honey for massage
The massage performed with honey also has an excellent effect . Cervical osteochondrosis at home can be alleviated in this way. However, honey must be used correctly. First, it is distributed evenly on the selected area, and then massage is done, pressing the neck with the efforts of the palms and breaking away from it. This procedure lasts a maximum of ten minutes. It is good if it is carried out by a specialist who will definitely act on the desired points. With independent execution, to achieve such an effect will not work.
Self massage
The most common way to massage with cervical osteochondrosis is self-massage. It can easily be done at home without visiting a specialist and without spending extra time and money. In addition, self-massage is realized at any convenient time interval. However, it should be done very carefully, and first you need to carefully study the technique of its implementation. After all, wrong movements can lead to negative consequences.
During self-massage should be guided by special provisions:
- first they sit on a chair with a straight back, their legs are held at a right angle, bending them at the knees;
- then they get up with their feet shoulder-width apart.
Self-massage begins with the neck on the back. The technique is as follows:
- for several minutes stroking the neck with both hands;
- then the movements go from the back of the head to the shoulders;
- they should first be without pressure, but gradually increase the force to the maximum permissible value;
- so that the hands do not get tired, they can be changed and make movements in turn.
The next technique is squeezing, which is performed strictly along one path, for example, on one side with the edge of the palm, and on the other, with the thumb.
Then do rubbing with your fingertips. This movement is preferably carried out with two hands at the same time, changing their trajectory. After that, they proceed to rubbing along the spine.
In this case, the movement is done in several ways:
- small spirals from the spine to the sides;
- the same, only with straight lines with pressure;
- with small pinching movements, as if grabbing the skin and crushing it between the fingers.
With both hands, they move in opposite directions. Next, go to the side parts. If rubbing at the same time with two hands is uncomfortable, then it is produced alternately. Moreover, in these parts you can use the phalanx of the fingers.
The last are stroking movements along the trajectory from the nape to the shoulder blades. Following this, they switch to self-massage in front.
First, gently massage the surface with the palm of your hand. Then stroking movements are done from top to bottom. No force is applied here.
Having thus prepared the area, they proceed to grinding, starting with the mastoid muscle. They move in a spiral, attracting more and more fingers. Rubbing should be carried out only on the sides, without affecting the thyroid gland.
Then the front sides of the neck are kneaded. To do this, the head is slightly tilted to the side and with pinching movements, capturing the muscle between the side and the thyroid gland, they move from top to bottom, first on one side and then on the other side.
In the end, do strokes from top to bottom, affecting all the muscles that were involved. They clasp the neck with two hands and continue. Then they slowly tilt it to the sides and carefully make inclinations, and then circular motions.
At this massage can be considered complete.
Conclusion
Is it possible to massage with cervical osteochondrosis? As practice shows, this is not only possible, but also very useful. Another thing is that with this procedure all contraindications must be taken into account and it should be performed by a qualified specialist.
But what if there is no such possibility? Is it possible to do massage for cervical osteochondrosis on my own? The answer is positive if it is done very carefully and with the movements described in the article. Then the effect of the procedure will not take long.