Cervical Radiculopathy Exercises

Cervical Radiculopathy Exercises: Definition, Tips, and Exercises

What is Cervical Radiculopathy?

Cervical Radiculopathy is more commonly known as the “Pinched Nerve” condition. Cervical Radiculopathy occurs when a nerve in the neck is compressed or irritated as a result of this compression where it branches away from the spinal cord.

Cervical Radiculopathy may cause pain where the pinched nerve is located and may radiate into the shoulder. The condition also induces muscle weakness and numbness that may travel down the arm and into the hand.

What Causes Cervical Radiculopathy?

A pinched nerve is most often caused by the wear and tear changes that occur in the spine as people age, such as in the case of arthritis. In some younger people, a pinched nerve is caused by a sudden injury that causes a disk to be herniated.

What are some of the Most Common Treatments used for Cervical Radiculopathy?

Cervical radiculopathy exercises should be aimed at opening the intervertebral foramen. These cervical radiculopathy exercises will help relieve the signs and symptoms while using an active range of motion. Since sometimes people with radiculopathy find it difficult to move their neck without significant pain, stretching can also be an effective way to perform cervical radiculopathy exercises and can help regain cervical mobility.

Once your mobility has improved, you can increase your strength with cervical radiculopathy exercises to make your spine more stable and prevent pain in the future. At first, strengthening should start with some simple isometric movements in the affected arm. Once your pain and other symptoms have improved, other cervical radiculopathy exercises in the form of progressive isotonic to strengthen can begin. This should start with a low amount of weight and a fairly high number of repetitions (15 to 20).

Fortunately, pinched nerves respond quite well to conservative treatment. This conservative treatment most often involves medication, but most of all, physical therapy.

Some of the most common physical therapies for cervical radiculopathy that you can easily do at home are generally branched into three categories, namely:

- Head Tilts- Head tilts are done by facing straight ahead, in the most erect manner you can possibly muster (straight erect back, straight neck). After making sure that your whole body is absolutely straight, tilt your head to the farthest of your right and left until you can feel a stretch in either one of these sides.

- Rotation Exercises- Patients will almost always start off with this exercise. This is because this exercise is effective in reducing pain, especially during the earlier stages of the condition, and can effectively help in easing the stress associated with a pinched nerve. These types of exercises have the goal of decreasing pain and increasing mobility in mind. This is due to the fact that the simple movement of the muscles stimulates circulation and can help reduce pain.

- Neck Muscle Strengthening Exercises- these exercises can be done by doing some light isometric exercises, to begin with. Start in an erect position and press your hand against your head to resist any movement whatsoever. Then, move your hand to the front and back of each side of your head so you can resist pressures in any of these directions.

The 3 of these remedies are proven effective in easing the pain and eventually curing the condition, but it is always important to consult your doctor or local physician whenever you have the condition. This is to get proper consultation and get professional advice from a licensed and skilled professional.

Here are some of the other most common cervical radiculopathy exercises you can do to help you relieve pain in your neck area:

6 Quick Cervical Radiculopathy Exercises

 Cervical Radiculopathy Exercises: Head Rotation

- Do this exercise while sitting down.

- Bring your head into a retracted position.

- Gently turn your head diagonally to the right.

- Do this until your nose is over your shoulder.

- Return to original position.

- Repeat 5 times in each of the left and right directions.

Cervical Radiculopathy Exercises: Neck Retraction

- Do this exercise lying face up or sitting down.

- Bring your head straight back and keep your eyes on the horizon. In short, retract it.

- Then return it to its original position.

- Repeat this exercise 10 times.

Cervical Radiculopathy Exercises:  Head Drop

- Start this exercise in a seated position.

- Retract your neck, or tilt it backward.

- Slowly move the head up and backward as far as you comfortably can.

- Return to starting position.

- Repeat 10 times.

Cervical Radiculopathy Exercises: Side Bend

- Start by sitting down.

- Bring your head into a sideways tilt, neck-retracted position.

- Gently guide your right ear towards your right should using your right hand.

- Do this until you feel a slight stretch on the left side of your neck.

- Return to starting position.

- Repeat this position for 5 times on each side.

Cervical Radiculopathy Exercises: Head Flexion

- Start by sitting down and bring your head to a neck-retraction position.

- Close or clasp both of your hands behind your neck.

- Guide your head with your hands into a downward motion, bringing the chin into the chest.

- Stop when you feel a stretch in the back of your neck.

- Return to original position.

- Repeat this procedure 5 times.

Cervical Radiculopathy Exercises: Shoulder Blade Pull

- Start this position once again by sitting down.

- Raise your arm and bend them in 90-degree angles.

- Relax your shoulders and neck and keep them still.

- While keeping your neck and shoulders still, squeeze the muscles between the shoulder blades.

- Draw the shoulder blades closer together.

- Return to original position and once again, repeat this procedure 5 times.

You might also like to read:
- Spinal Deformity Surgical Treatment,
- Spinal Fusion Surgery.

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Questions & Answers
Q:
What is the best way to treat permanent back and neck pain and stiffness?
A:
by
Age2B

Here are some tips:

Neck Pain Tips: Sleep with a cervical pillow

Orthopedic or cervical pillows are made with special contours to support the space beneath the neck and head. They are also more concave for the head and provide more support to the neck.

Neck Pain Tips: Sleep on your back

The best position to lie to sleep is on your back. If you sleep on your stomach or on your side, make sure your pillow is not too thick. It should raise your head no more than 4 to 6 inches. This will keep your neck and head from turning to either side.

Neck Pain Tips: Position your computer screen at eye level

While you are working at a computer, sit comfortably in your chair with your computer in front of you. Close your eyes and then open them. When you open your eyes, you should see the middle of the computer screen. If your gaze is not in the middle of the screen, adjust the height of the screen using items like books.

To keep your head from gradually drifting forward, take frequent breaks to stretch. Getting up to walk around at least once every half-hour is one of the best neck pain tips.

Neck Pain Tips: Use a telephone headset

Never hold a phone between your shoulder and your ear. Use a headset or other hands-free system to talk on the phone and avoid abusing your neck and spine.

Neck Pain Tips: Exercise your neck muscles

One of the best neck pain tips is using the chin tuck. You can do this often throughout the day. In addition to helping strengthen the muscles that hold the head in alignment over the shoulders, it also helps strengthen the scalene and sub-occipital muscles.

Read more tips here: Neck Pain Tips: Sleeping, Posture, Exercising, Hydration & Prevention

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Age2B
4 answers
Q:
What is the best treatment for neck pain and shoulder Pain?
A:
by
Age2B

One of the best treatment for neck pain and shoulder pain is exercises:

Neck Pain Exercises: Neck Extension

  1. To begin this neck pain exercise, sit up straight in a chair with your feet flat on the floor.
  2. Looking straight ahead, tuck your chin slightly (starting position)
  3. Place the palm of your hand on the back of your neck, at the base of your head
  4. Apply slight forward pressure with your hand, while resisting the forward motion of your neck and head
  5. Hold for a count of 5 and return to the starting position and relax
  6. Repeat the neck pain exercises 5-10 times

Neck pain exercises: Side bend

  1. Sit up straight in a chair with your feet flat on the floor.
  2. Looking straight ahead, tuck your chin slightly (starting position)
  3. Place your left hand, palm down, on the left side of your head (around your ear)
  4. Slightly push your head to the right side with your hand, while resisting the sideways motion of your neck and head
  5. Hold for a count of 5 and return to the starting position and relax.
  6. Repeat 5-10 times
  7. Repeat the neck pain exercises with the other side.

Neck pain exercises: Neck flexion

  1. Sit up straight in a chair with your feet flat on the floor.
  2. Looking straight ahead, tuck your chin slightly (starting position)
  3. Place the tips of your fingers on your forehead
  4. Slightly push your head backward with your fingers, while resisting the backward motion of your neck and head
  5. Hold for a count of 5 and return to the starting position and relax.
  6. Repeat the neck pain exercises 5-10 times

More exercises here: Neck Pain Exercises

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Age2B
4 answers
Q:
How do I reduce the shoulder and neck pain?
A:
by
Age2B

Here are some tips:

Neck Pain Tips: Sleep with a cervical pillow

Orthopedic or cervical pillows are made with special contours to support the space beneath the neck and head. They are also more concave for the head and provide more support to the neck.

Neck Pain Tips: Sleep on your back

The best position to lie to sleep is on your back. If you sleep on your stomach or on your side, make sure your pillow is not too thick. It should raise your head no more than 4 to 6 inches. This will keep your neck and head from turning to either side.

Neck Pain Tips: Position your computer screen at eye level

While you are working at a computer, sit comfortably in your chair with your computer in front of you. Close your eyes and then open them. When you open your eyes, you should see the middle of the computer screen. If your gaze is not in the middle of the screen, adjust the height of the screen using items like books.

To keep your head from gradually drifting forward, take frequent breaks to stretch. Getting up to walk around at least once every half-hour is one of the best neck pain tips.

Neck Pain Tips: Carry weight evenly

Many people make the mistake of carrying a heavy briefcase or their purse on their shoulder or on one side of their body. Doing this causes strain in the muscles and leads to pain.

Remove non-essentials from your briefcase or purse. Consider using a backpack to evenly distribute the weight across your shoulders. If you choose to carry a purse or backpack, keep your shoulders level while carrying it.

Neck Pain Tips: Maintain a proper posture

The most common posture contributing to neck pain is the “head-and-shoulders-forward” posture. In this position, the neck slopes forward, putting the head in front of the shoulders.

In this position, the head pulls the upper back forward also in a slumped position. This places a strain on the entire spinal column.

More tips here: Neck Pain Tips: Sleeping, Posture, Exercising, Hydration & Prevention

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Age2B
4 answers