According to Healthline - Back pain is a symptom that can be caused by several factors, one of them being a straightening of the cervical lordosis. This is a condition in which the cervical spine, located between the head and the neck, is straighter than normal.
Under normal conditions, the cervical spine has a slight inward curve, as does the lumbar spine, just above the buttocks.
This change in alignment of the cervical spine can occur as a natural part of aging, but can be accelerated by poor postural habits.
Cervical lordosis rectification: what is it?
Lordosis is a natural curvature that exists in the cervical and lumbar segments of the spine, where there are inward-facing curves. The rectification of cervical lordosis is the loss of this natural curvature in the neck region.
Some people may think that lordosis and kyphosis are abnormal conditions, but they are actually natural curves of the spine that we can more easily see when we look at a person in profile.
These curves are formed due to the alignment of the vertebrae, which allows a better distribution of the weight of the head and trunk, and the cushioning of impacts.
The accentuation of these curves, which are hyperkyphosis and hyperlordosis, are already considered abnormal spinal deviations.
The straightening of the cervical lordosis is also a pathological alteration in the curvature of the spine, which gains a straighter alignment.
Risk factors
Since it is not possible to identify a cause for the rectification of cervical lordosis, we talk about risk factors associated with the condition.
Among the main risk factors are:
Aging
Spending long periods in front of a computer with poor posture
Injury or trauma to the neck region
Arthritis in the neck joints
Cervical arthrosis
Symptoms of cervical lordosis rectification
The rectification of cervical lordosis can be asymptomatic because the body develops mechanisms to compensate for the loss of this natural curvature. Usually, this compensation results in the shortening or weakening of the muscles of the dorsal region.
Some people, however, have symptoms of cervical lordosis rectification, which are mainly pain and difficulty in moving the spine.
You may only have one or more symptoms from this list if you have cervical lordosis rectification:
Pain in the cervical segment of the spine, which is between your head and neck
Pain in the thoracic segment of your spine, which is in the middle of your back
Difficulty moving the spine, due to stiffness and weakened muscles
A spine that is straighter than normal
Muscle contracture in the trapezius
The misalignment of the vertebrae caused by the straightening of the cervical lordosis can lead to spinal or cervical arthrosis, which is a degenerative process that affects the cartilage of the intervertebral discs.
In this disease, the cushioning disk that exists between the vertebrae becomes thinner and stiffer, and may lead to fusion of bones, with the formation of osteophytes (parrot beak) or leakage of internal fluid from the discs, i.e., a disc protrusion that can develop into a herniated disc.
These two clinical conditions can result in compression of nerve fibers, which pass through the vertebrae, causing typical symptoms of nerve compression:
Tingling in the arms
Shock sensation in the arms
Numbness or burning in the arms
Loss of strength in the hand
Diagnosis of cervical lordosis rectification
The report of symptoms and physical examination are most often sufficient for the diagnosis of cervical lordosis.
However, the diagnosis can be complemented and confirmed with imaging tests, which allow visualization of the loss of the natural deviation of the cervical spine.
Treatment of cervical lordosis rectification
During an acute crisis of cervical lordosis rectification, which is the period when symptoms manifest themselves, treatment is done with painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs to relieve pain and inflammation.
Applying a hot compress to the site is also an effective therapeutic strategy to relieve the pain and discomfort caused by the inflammation in the neck and back region.
These acute crises can be avoided with some postural corrections in the daily routine. To guide you in this regard, the orthopedic doctor may prescribe sessions of global postural re-education (GPR) and physical therapy.
In these sessions, you learn how to improve your posture, considering your occupation, habits, and physical activities you practice. You also work on flexibility, mobility, and muscle strengthening.
In some cases, the physical therapist may use electrotherapy to relieve pain, stimulate muscle strengthening, and the regeneration of tissues damaged by inflammation.
These measures help to correct the postural deviations that favor the progression of the rectification of the cervical lordosis and to strengthen the muscles, which reduces the overload on the spine and prevents complications such as arthrosis.
Content created and supplied by: Trendyhealth (via Opera News )
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