| The vertebrae are a series of bones connected to | | | | What are the treatments for Cervical Stenosis? |
| each other forming the neck, also known as the | | | | Depending on the stage of cervical stenosis, |
| cervical spine. The spinal canal, which encloses the | | | | treatments may be operative or non-operative. |
| spinal cord, runs through the vertebrae. The spinal | | | | Usually, patients who have severe fragility and pain in |
| cord contains major nerves that allow arm and leg | | | | the affected areas and difficulty in walking require |
| movements, sensation, including bladder control and | | | | surgery. Non-operative or conservative treatment, |
| bowel movements. Cervical stenosis is the condition | | | | which includes cervical stenosis physical therapy, is |
| characterized by the narrowing of the spinal canal. It | | | | ideal for mild cases. Patients should understand that |
| occurs with age as the intervertebral discs starts to | | | | cervical stenosis physical therapy would not reduce |
| lack water content and hardens. The discs can shrink | | | | the narrowing of the spinal canal or bring it back to |
| in height and stick out into the spinal canal. Spinal | | | | normal size. The goal of cervical stenosis physical |
| joints also bulge and protrude into the spinal canal. | | | | therapy is long-term pain management and increased |
| When the spinal canal narrows, the resulting pressure | | | | function that will enable the patient to control pain |
| on the spinal cord leads to another condition called | | | | effectively and function normally without having to |
| cervical myelopathy, which affects nerve functions. | | | | undergo surgery. Cervical stenosis physical therapy |
| Cervical stenosis usually does not have symptoms. If | | | | starts with improving flexibility in the neck, arms and |
| it has advanced to cervical myelopathy, the patient | | | | legs through stretching exercises. It is also important |
| may experience neck and arm pain, weakness, and | | | | to increase circulation and develop endurance in the |
| difficulty in moving the arms and legs. Incontinence | | | | arms and legs with cardiovascular exercises such as |
| also occurs in later stages of the disease. Symptoms | | | | swimming and treadmill exercises. Your therapist may |
| may appear gradually or develop rapidly. Early | | | | also add strengthening exercises in your program. |
| detection plays a crucial role in the prevention and | | | | While most of these exercises are always under |
| treatment of cervical stenosis and cervical | | | | professional supervision, your therapist will also |
| myelopathy. Your doctor will perform a physical | | | | provide you with exercises that you can perform |
| examination and diagnostic tests and recommend an | | | | independently. Supervised cervical stenosis physical |
| MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging ) and CT | | | | therapy may take three or more months. If your |
| (Computed Tomography) scan to be able to see the | | | | condition does not improve after cervical stenosis |
| level of narrowing of the spinal canal. You may have | | | | physical therapy, your physician will then recommend |
| to undergo other tests for a complete diagnosis. | | | | surgery. |