Neck Arthritis Exercises

Neck arthritis could be a result of a variety of arthritic conditions namely osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia and others. Neck osteoarthritis also known as cervical spondylosis and cervical arthritis is one of the most common forms of arthritis in neck. All arthritis conditions including neck arthritis, if not treated tends to worsen with time and the treatment later becomes more complicated and can only be corrected or treated using surgical methods. If diagnosed at an early stage, performing neck arthritis exercises could treat the condition and give respite from the neck pain that one is susceptible to when affected by this condition.

Neck Arthritis Symptoms
Pain and stiffness in the neck is one of the most common symptoms of neck arthritis. While it could aggravate the pain when standing as compared to lying down, arthritis neck pain could also increase while sleeping. This is because the spine does not obtain any support from the neck muscles during sleep as the muscles of the neck are at rest and are in a relaxing position. What makes it difficult identify this condition of neck arthritis is that the pain is not just experienced in the neck area but it extends to other areas such as the shoulder blades, the head, arms and the upper back. The pain starts at the neck region and then gradually spreads to other areas because of the nerve compression in the neck. In short, neck arthritis symptoms includes the following:

• Pain and stiffness in the neck
• Headache
• Loss of balance and dizziness
• Tenderness in the neck
• Weakness and numbness in areas such as the shoulders, the face, fingers, hands and arms
• Difficulty in moving the neck as desired

Those were some of the major arthritis in neck symptoms but some might also experience difficulty swallowing, neck cracking and grinding sounds in the neck, difficulty walking, ringing sensation in the ears. Chest pain close by the location of the heart could also be experienced. Now that we are familiar with the symptoms, let us look into the possible neck arthritis treatment.

Neck Arthritis Treatment
Although neck arthritis like any other form of arthritis, is not completely curable, it certainly can be treated to an extent that it doesn't cause major problems in living and can be handled by taking certain precautions and by being careful from anything that could intensify the pain or the condition itself. Severity of the condition is the major factor that is considered by the doctors before prescribing a neck arthritis treatment. Treatment may include non surgical methods such as physical therapy or exercises, applying heat pads for better blood circulation or cold pads in order to reduce swelling in the region. Massage therapies and acupuncture could also be prescribed if the condition is not severe. Besides these methods, anti-inflammatory injections and painkillers may be prescribed to reduce or numb the pain in the region. If the quality of life does not improve with these non-surgical methods, then the person might need to undergo a surgery.

Exercises to Relieve Neck Arthritis
Now that we know the different treatment options, those with this problem might want to try the exercises for neck arthritis given in this article, it's an effective method to get some respite from this persistent problem, it only helps when it's done correctly though. So let's have a look at some of the exercises for neck arthritis that are easy to perform and not so taxing, instead are relaxing.

Cervical Flexion and Extension: This is one of the very beneficial cervical exercises for neck arthritis. It includes two postures. First, tuck your chin in and then slowly bring your head forward so as to touch the chest with the chin. This is cervical flexion. Hold it for a couple of seconds and proceed with the second step that is cervical extension. Gently move the head backwards towards the ceiling and take it as far as it goes but remember not to strain it. Repeat this two-step neck arthritis exercise 5 times.

Cervical Spine Rotation: It's a simple exercise wherein you need to turn your head towards either one of the sides, right or left. If you are comfortable with right, turn your head to the right side, stretch it as far as you can comfortably without any extra effort, trying for your chin to come over your shoulders. Hold it for about 4 to 5 seconds and repeat this on the left side. Repeat this exercise 5 times.

Cervical Strengthening Exercise: In this neck arthritis exercise, look straight and place your right hand against the right side of your head. Now try to get your ear towards the shoulder, resist the motion while trying to do that. Do the same on the left side. Hold the position of resisting the motion for 4 to 5 seconds on each sides and relax.

Lateral Flexion: In this neck arthritis exercise, bring your right ear towards your right shoulder, don't strain the neck and bring as far as you can and then slowly bring left ear towards your left shoulder. Repeat this exercise 5 times.

Another neck strengthening exercise is to bring both the hands behind the head, cup the hands to support the head. Now try to push your head backwards and resisting the movement. Again hold this for a few seconds, release the hands and relax.

So these were some simple and useful exercise for arthritis of the neck to improve the condition. Please note that although these exercises for neck arthritis may seem simple, they need to be performed with a lot of care and most importantly, one must not try to put extra stress or tension around the neck area while attempting these exercises. It is highly advisable to check with your physician before you start performing these neck arthritis exercises.