Cervical spinal stenosis, also known as cervical stenosis, occurs when the spaces between or around your spine become narrower. This condition can be asymptomatic, but in other cases, it may become a serious issue. Cervical stenosis stretches and exercises can help manage symptoms. Show
What Is Cervical Spinal Stenosis?Spinal stenosis is a condition that can affect various parts of the spine. However, the Mayo Clinic says that it's most likely to affect the lower back or neck. These types of stenosis are known as lumbar and cervical stenosis, respectively. When cervical stenosis occurs, the spaces within your spine become narrower. Emory Healthcare says that stenosis can affect both your spinal canal, where your spinal cord is found, and the smaller openings around it. These are the spaces that your spinal nerves pass through. According to an August 2015 study in the journal Spine, there are many causes of spinal stenosis. The Brigham Health Hub says that it's most commonly caused by the degeneration and herniation of your spine's disks. It can also be due to bone spurs or thickened ligaments. Cervical stenosis can be congenital or due to age, genetics or a health condition like osteoarthritis or scoliosis. The Columbia University Department of Neurological Surgery says that a condition known as spondylitis, which is an age-related degenerative spine issue, can also lead to stenosis. Cervical stenosis can also occur for various other reasons, like injuries. Damage to your spine can happen after an accident, like a car crash. A November 2014 study published in the journal Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinics of North America indicates that cervical spine injuries can also occur from non-contact and contact sports, like football, wrestling, diving and skiing. That being said, even just the normal wear and tear that happens with age can cause cervical stenosis. Most people with this issue are around 50 or older. Cervical Stenosis Symptoms and TreatmentAccording to the Mayo Clinic, cervical stenosis can occur without causing any symptoms. However, people may also experience pain, tingling, numbness or weakness throughout their arms and hands. Symptoms in your legs and feet are only likely to arise in lumbar stenosis. Clumsiness, jumpy reflexes, feeling that your limbs are heavy, and bowel or bladder dysfunction are also possible symptoms of cervical stenosis. Symptoms typically get worse over time. Emory Healthcare says that these symptoms commonly due to myelopathy, which is when your spinal cord becomes compressed. They might also be caused by spinal nerve root compression (radiculopathy). Radiculopathy produces many of the same symptoms but is also likely to be very painful. Treatment for cervical stenosis depends on the severity of your signs and symptoms. If your symptoms are severe, your doctor may recommend a surgical procedure. If mild to moderate, your doctor is likely to recommend pain relievers (anti-inflammatories or opioids) and steroids. He or she might also recommend antidepressants or anti-seizure drugs, which can help manage chronic pain and nerve pain. If you have become less active due to your painful or unpleasant symptoms, physical therapy may also be recommended. Cervical spine exercises through physical therapy can help prevent pain from getting worse, which may result if your muscles weaken. Cervical spinal stenosis exercises and stretches can also help maintain the flexibility and stability of the spine. However, you should be aware that physical therapy neck exercises and stretches won't work for everyone who has cervical stenosis. TipsPeople who have cervical stenosis with myelopathy will likely not benefit from physical therapy exercises on their own; they'll likely need spinal decompression, instead. Talk to your doctor or physical therapist to see if doing cervical spine exercises in physical therapy can help reduce or relieve some of your symptoms. Cervical Stenosis StretchesIf your cervical stenosis symptoms are causing you serious pain or discomfort, your doctor or physical therapist will first recommend rest. Then, depending on your posture, range of motion and symptoms, he or she might recommend certain cervical stenosis stretches. These exercises, recommended by the North American Spine Society, can help improve range of motion and flexibility. Move 1: Supine Retraction
TipsStop immediately if you experience any pain as a result of doing this exercise. Move 2: Sitting or Standing Neck Retraction
TipsIf this exercise helps your pain, feel free to repeat it three or four times a day. Don't stop once the pain is gone, though — you should continue doing cervical stenosis stretches several times a day for another two weeks to help prevent the pain from returning. Cervical Spinal Stenosis ExercisesAccording to a Brigham Health Hub article featuring Dr. Yi Lu, MD, PhD, who is a spine surgeon and the Director of Neurosurgical Trauma at Brigham and Women's Hospital, core-strengthening exercises can also help manage spinal stenosis symptoms. They can take the pressure off the spine by strengthening the muscles that support your back. Core exercises, like planks and crunches, can help reduce your symptoms if you do them regularly. According to Dr. Lu, this is because “exercises that strengthen the core slow down the wear and tear process.” The North American Spine Society also says that other isometric strengthening exercises can help. Move 1: Prone Head Lifts
Move 2: Planks
TipsThere are many ways to do a plank. However, this core exercise can be a bit strenuous if you're in a lot of pain or are still noticing debilitating symptoms. Try doing a plank while resting on bent knees, rather than on your feet, to make it easier. Can physical therapy help cervical spinal stenosis?In most cases, symptoms of spinal stenosis can be effectively managed with physical therapy and other conservative treatments. Only the most severe cases of spinal stenosis need surgery or spinal injections.
What activities should be avoided with cervical spinal stenosis?Road running and other high-impact activities can shock your spinal cord leading to inflammation and pain. Jogging, basketball, rugby, football, using a jump rope, and martial arts are all high impact and can cause trauma to the spine. If you must do activities that are high impact, try to avoid long distances.
Is stretching good for cervical stenosis?If you are in pain from spinal stenosis, you probably don't even want to think about exercising. However, as counterintuitive or impossible as it sounds, exercise, stretching, and movement can help relieve your spinal stenosis pain. Exercise, stretching, and movement can help relieve your spinal stenosis pain.
How do you fix cervical spinal stenosis without surgery?Nonsurgical Treatment for Spinal Stenosis. Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs—commonly called NSAIDs—relieve pain by reducing inflammation of nerve roots and spine joints, thereby creating more space in the spinal canal. ... . Corticosteroids. ... . Neuroleptics.. |