The cervical spine syndrome

by Denise Müller, Grad. Sports Scientist

Cervical syndrome or cervical spine syndrome are umbrella terms for aches and pains in the neck area. The most common symptoms are muscle and neck pains, migraine headaches, impaired vision, and difficulties swallowing, which can all develop into much more than just headaches and muscle tension. These symptoms are often the trigger for chronic neck tension, neck pains, and pains in the shoulders – and it really doesn’t take much effort to get rid of all that.

Neck pain is a common complaint in the population; around 15 percent suffer from it, with much higher numbers of women than men affected. Around two thirds of all people experience neck pains at least once in their lives. The causes are many and varied: Blockages in the spinal area, insufficient exercise, and incorrect posture at work or when sleeping, the results of a whiplash injury, a slipped disk, and so on. Psychological stress is also seen as one of the main culprits for causing tension in the shoulder and neck area. Ongoing stress will have a negative effect on muscle tone (extreme tension), and the posture of the head will change unphysiologically.

This region is particularly vulnerable, since the spinal column works particularly hard in the cervical area – just as hard as in the lumbar region – and since numerous nerve ends exit the medulla spinalis in this region as well. A predominantly sedentary lifestyle, combined with a misaligned posture as seen here, will increase the stress on the cervical spine exponentially and constantly. Important neuroplexa and nodes of the sympathetic system are located in the immediate vicinity, and can have a far-reaching impact on the cardiovascular system with the region continuously overstressed and tensioned.

What can we do when suffering from tension in the neck area, and what should be done to prevent it?
One of the most important principles is to ensure that a straight and upright posture and seated posture is promoted at the workplace. Try and avoid abrupt and fast head movement. Periodic breaks to move around should be a fixture of every day life – even if you only have time for a few exercises to loosen up and get your entire neck-shoulder-back region moving.
In addition to these basic rules, regular exercise of the spine or recreational sports to strengthen, stretch, and limber up your back musculature is definitely advisable. Particularly well suited are sports like swimming (except breast stroke), water gymnastics, jogging, Nordic walking, and cross-country skiing in the winter. Targeted relaxation techniques, like autogenic training (relaxation techniques) or muscle relaxation according to Jacobson are also perfect alternatives.