Neck pain is a common issue affecting a majority of
individuals. In fact, approximately 85 percent of the United States population
suffers from neck or back pain at some point in their lifetime. Neck pain can
be caused by a variety of complications, however, these can often be associated
with age. As we age, the discs and joints found in the cervical spine, or neck,
will gradually begin to degenerate, leading to symptoms of pain and discomfort.
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Cervical spondylosis, commonly known as arthritis of the
neck, is the medical term used to describe these age-related, wear-and-tear
changes that occur in the cervical spine over time. Neck arthritis occurs
frequently among people over the age of 60 and its well-known symptoms can be
debilitating and impairing for many while others may experience no noticeable
symptoms. If diagnosed in time, cervical spondylosis can be treated
effectively.
Causes and Symptoms of Neck Arthritis
Cervical Spondylosis, or neck arthritis, generally develops
naturally as a result of degenerative changes which deform the structures of
the spine with age. These changes are normal and they occur in everyone, commonly
without causing painful symptoms.
Anatomy of the Spine
The spine consists of a variety of complex tissues that
provide flexibility and mobility to the body. The vertebral discs, found
between each adjacent vertebra, primarily function as a shock absorber to
comfortably cushion the spinal bones when we move. Spinal discs also act as
ligaments to hold the vertebrae of the spine together and as cartilaginous
joints that allow slight mobility within the spine. Healthy discs are composed
of two parts: a tough outer portion and a soft inner core, much like a jelly
doughnut, which are designed to evenly distribute the stress and pressure that
is placed on the spine.
As the discs in the spine age, they begin to lose their fluid-like
content and become weaker and stiffer, causing the discs to be less capable of
adjusting to compression. This degeneration also causes loss of disc space
height, reducing the amount of space between each vertebra and greatly
restricting the individuals original range of motion in the spine. While a
majority of older people have undergone spinal degeneration without
experiencing symptoms of discomfort, in some individuals, it can become painful.
When symptoms of neck arthritis do occur, they usually
include pain and stiffness in the region of the cervical spine. The pain of the
condition can vary in range from mild to severe, often worsening when the
individual looks up or looks down for an extended period of time or by
activities in which the neck is held in a stationary position for prolonged amounts
of time, such as driving or reading a book. Other symptoms include: headaches,
grinding or popping sensations with movements of the head, muscle spasms in the
neck and shoulders and loss of balance.
Chiropractic Treatment for Neck Arthritis
The symptoms associated with neck arthritis are commonly
treated with anti-inflammatories and pain relievers, but prescription
medications only temporarily alleviate the pain without addressing the source
of the problem. Chiropractic treatment is a popular, alternative treatment
option used to naturally treat numerous types of injuries and conditions,
including arthritis.
Chiropractic care doesn’t simply target the underlying cause
behind an individual’s symptoms, chiropractors are also concerned with the
health of the individual’s entire body, focusing on restoring the proper
function and motion of the spinal joints and the soft-tissues that surround
them. After the initial diagnosis from a chiropractor determines the type of
injury or condition affecting the patient, an appropriate treatment plan using primarily
spinal adjustments and manual manipulations will help correct any spinal
misalignments, or subluxations, which may be causing the symptoms. Spinal
manipulations also help reduce inflammation and swelling around the affected
area that cause stiffness and pain, improving and maintaining the spine’s
flexibility and mobility to restore overall health and function.
Chiropractic Alleviates Neck Arthritis
In addition, chiropractors may use several stretches and
exercises together with chiropractic adjustments to speed up the rehabilitation
process. Chiropractic treatment is effective for many types of injuries and
conditions, as for older people with spinal degeneration seeking relief from
painful symptoms, chiropractic can decrease and even eliminate the pain and
discomfort of cervical arthritis.
Improving Overall Health with Fitness & Chiropractic: A Client’s Story
Dr. Alex Jimenez’s chiropractic clinic and Push-as-Rx system
has helped many people restore and maintain their health as well as helped them
achieve their fitness goals. Luis Martinez chose to come to Push-as-Rx ®™ in
order to change his life and now he's in the best shape he's ever been. Mr.
Martinez encountered health challenges despite taking care of his health but
Push as Rx helped him overcome his hardships. Luis Martinez is grateful to the
trainers for believing in him to succeed in regaining his health once more.
Dr. Alex Jimenez’s clinic and PUSH-as-Rx ®™ system is
leading the field with laser focus supporting our youth sport programs.
The PUSH-as-Rx ®™ System is a sport specific athletic program
designed by a strength-agility coach and physiology doctor with a combined 40
years of experience working with extreme athletes. At its core, the program is
the multidisciplinary study of reactive agility, body mechanics and extreme
motion dynamics. Through continuous and detailed assessments of the athletes in
motion and while under direct supervised stress loads, a clear quantitative
picture of body dynamics emerges. Exposure to the biomechanical vulnerabilities
are presented to our team. Immediately, we adjust our methods for
our athletes in order to optimize performance. This highly adaptive
system with continual dynamic adjustments has helped many of our athletes
come back faster, stronger, and ready post injury while safely minimizing
recovery times. Results demonstrate clear improved agility, speed, decreased
reaction time with greatly improved postural-torque
mechanics. PUSH-as-Rx ®™ offers specialized extreme performance
enhancements to our athletes no matter the age.
By Dr. Alex Jimenez
