Massage for osteochondrosis of the cervical spine for adults

Many people who work a lot while sitting (at a computer, with papers, books) often note problems with the cervical spine. They complain of headache, discomfort in the neck and shoulders, drowsiness and fatigue. Often the problem is solved by coffee or pills, although the right thing to do is to visit a doctor and look for the problem. And, most likely, it will be osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.

Osteochondrosis in the cervical region is a pathology associated with degeneration processes (aging and irrational use). There is a change in the structure of the vertebrae and intervertebral discs, which provokes damage to nearby ligaments, muscles are injured, nerves are pinched, and pain occurs. And later – protrusion or herniated discs.

Pain in the shoulder area, along the back of the neck, in the area of ​​the shoulder girdle, numbness in the muscles, hearing or vision problems, tinnitus are signs that it is time to be treated. The doctor may recommend massage as part of complex therapy, but it is only done outside the acute phase, when there is no severe pain.

The benefits of massage for cervical osteochondrosis for adults

Massage is one of the most popular methods in the treatment of osteochondrosis. It relieves the patient of muscle pain and tension, restores mobility, normalizes blood flow and lymphatic drainage in the affected area, and prevents the progression of the disease.

It should be borne in mind that the degenerative-dystrophic process in osteochondrosis is chronic. From time to time, muscle tension occurs, caused by a complex of changes in the intervertebral discs. Therefore, therapeutic massage for osteochondrosis should be carried out regularly, in courses.

Harm of massage for cervical osteochondrosis for adults

During an exacerbation, intense massage often causes severe pain in the patient. Therefore, the impact should be carried out not on the affected areas, but on the neighboring ones – the pain is removed reflexively. In general, massage sessions are recommended after the exacerbation stage has passed.

Do not immediately start with complex manipulations and influences. Excessive exposure to an unprepared patient causes muscle contraction and, as a result, pain. The first massage sessions should not last more than 5 – 7 minutes. In the future, their duration can be increased to 15 minutes or more.

Contraindications for massage with cervical osteochondrosis for adults

Before starting treatment, it is necessary to exclude all possible contraindications. These include the following health issues:

• acute pain in which the patient cannot turn his head normally;
• bouts of dizziness, lightheadedness, malaise;
• hypertension in the acute stage (crises, pressure surges);
• chronic heart failure with edema, malaise, decreased exercise tolerance;
• febrile conditions, acute respiratory viral infections, exacerbation of any chronic pathologies until the general condition stabilizes.

The doctor can also determine a number of additional contraindications, or they will be reported by a massage therapist, a rehabilitation specialist (see below).

How to massage with cervical osteochondrosis for adults at home

Even if we are talking about home conditions, only a professional massage therapist or a specialist in physical rehabilitation should carry out therapeutic massage in the presence of osteochondrosis in the cervical region. Massage can be performed on a special massage table or chair. The masseur performs sequential treatment of the neck, shoulder area, collar area. Muscles need to be carefully relaxed, the head needs to be tilted forward.

Massage starts from the top of the neck to the shoulders with the help of stroking movements. The pressure on the tissue should initially be minimal. Subsequent movements should be like compressions. They are carried out with the phalanges of the fingers – several times on the right side, several times symmetrically on the left.

Then the muscles begin to knead, trying to penetrate as deep as possible under the skin. Also with the phalanges of the fingers, in circular motions, passing them along the spinal column, and then with diverging movements to the sides.

Similar approaches with stroking, rubbing and pressure are carried out with a massage of the trapezius muscles, shoulder area. At the end of the session, a course of stroking is carried out again from the base of the neck to the nape area, with circular movements of the fingers, squeezing, rubbing the nape area.

Popular questions and answers

We were answered popular questions about massage for osteochondrosis of the cervical spine physiotherapy and sports medicine doctor, traumatologist-orthopedist, rehabilitation specialist Georgy Temichev.