Professor Do Jong-geol, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Samsung Seoul Hospital
60% of adults have cervical spine deformities… Common in people in their 40s and 50s… Causes neck and shoulder pain, if left untreated, can lead to disc problems
Muscle injections and physical therapy are temporary prescriptions… Posture correction should be prioritized over pain treatment
If you change your lifestyle and do neck exercises regularly, you can restore your original shape and relieve pain.
Ms. Im Ji-hyeon (pseudonym), a woman in her early 40s, suffered from pain around her cervical spine and spine for a while. At first, she visited a clinic near her company during her lunch break. She received a lot of treatment, including physical therapy.
The pain went away after receiving treatment. However, it did not last long, and the pain returned. This cycle of improvement and worsening continued for nearly two years. Mr. Lee eventually visited Professor Do Jong-geol of the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at Samsung Seoul Hospital. Professor Do began by conducting tests to find the exact cause. Other than the fact that the cervical spine was bent in an inverted C shape, no serious problems were found.
Professor Do informed Lee of this fact. Because the pain was severe, he could not stop taking all the medications right away. However, he stopped all other treatments he had received at the hospital. While taking the medication, he also practiced behavioral therapy such as taking warm showers, meditation, and posture correction.
At the same time, he did aerobic exercise. After about two months, Mr. Lee noticed a change. Before receiving treatment from Professor Do, the intensity of the pain was 8 out of 10, but this score dropped to 3. Professor Do said, “If you can properly correct the cervical spine deformity, you can eliminate all unnecessary treatment and still control the pain.”
● Cervical spine deformity that 60% of adults have
The top part of the spine is called the cervical vertebrae. Normally, the cervical vertebrae protrude slightly forward. They are in a gentle C shape. Professor Do said, “If the cervical vertebrae are C-shaped, the weight of the head is effectively distributed,” and “the burden on the cervical vertebrae is reduced, and the movement of the neck and shoulders is smoother, so there is no pain.”
The shape of the cervical spine can change due to bad lifestyle habits. At first, the C-shape straightens and becomes a straight line. This is called ‘straight neck.’ If it gets worse, it becomes ‘turtle neck,’ where the head sticks out, or ‘reverse C-neck,’ where only the end of the cervical spine bends in an inverted C shape.
Professor Do said, “Cervical spine deformity itself is not a disease,” but added, “About 60% of adults in Korea suffer from great discomfort because of it.”
The most common symptom is pain in the neck or shoulder blades. When the cervical spine is deformed, it cannot properly absorb the shock applied to the neck, and the muscles and ligaments around the neck become more tense, which occurs. For example, in the case of turtle neck, every time the head protrudes 3cm forward, about 5kg more weight is applied.
If left untreated, neck pain can become chronic. Pain can spread to the back and waist. If it gets worse, it can lead to a herniated disc or shoulder impingement syndrome, which makes it difficult to move the shoulder.
Professor Do said, “If cervical spine deformation has begun, you should think of it as a warning light for cervical spine health,” and “You should immediately begin treatment, including posture correction.”
● Gradually treat with detailed education
Professor Do said about cervical spine deformation, “It is like a ‘medal of life’ that you receive in your 40s and 50s after living hard.” He said that patients are most likely to develop this around this time, when they are suffering from overwork and stress. In fact, the incidence of patients decreases after retirement in the 60s. However, turtle neck occurs a lot in middle school students who carry heavy school bags on their backs.
Even cervical spine deformities that have developed over a long period of time can be sufficiently treated. Pain-relieving medications and posture education are all that is needed. However, it is not possible to improve with just one or two treatments. The idea of recovering in a short period of time must be abandoned. The patient’s own efforts are absolutely necessary.
Professor Do said, “Physical therapy, medication, muscle injections, and nerve blocks can help reduce pain, but you shouldn’t rely on these treatments alone,” and “They are not fundamental treatments.” In order to “cure,” you need to correct your posture and change bad lifestyle habits in the long term.
Just because you have pain, you don’t necessarily need to get a shot or receive ‘cutting-edge treatment’. In this case, since you haven’t addressed the root cause, it can only worsen the symptoms. Mr. Lee is one of those cases. Professor Do asked, “If muscle pain is caused by cervical spine deformation, shouldn’t the cervical spine be returned to normal for treatment?”
● Start by changing your lifestyle habits.
Treatment for cervical spine deformity is the same as prevention. You have to start by correcting your bad posture.
First, let’s check the condition of the cervical spine. Take a side view while looking straight ahead. It is best if the straight line connecting the center of the ear and the shoulder line in the photo is vertical. If the center of the ear is facing forward, it is likely that you have turtle neck.
There is another way. Stand with your back and buttocks against the wall, spread your legs shoulder-width apart, and look straight ahead. Place your head against the wall. If your head does not touch the wall, you should consider it a turtle neck.
Working on a computer causes you to lean your head forward. There is a high possibility that you will develop turtle neck. When driving a car, if you hold the steering wheel tightly and lean your upper body forward, you can develop turtle neck. Carrying a heavy bag causes your head to stick out forward, greatly increasing the likelihood of developing turtle neck. If you look down at your cell phone, you can easily develop straight neck or inverted C-shaped neck.
You need to fix them one by one. When working on a computer, adjust the monitor to eye level. When driving a car, put the back of your head on the top of the driver’s seat. Wear heavy bags in front of you or reduce their weight. When looking at a cell phone, instead of lowering your head, raise your arm and hold the phone in front of your eyes.
Professor Do emphasized that you should never bring your cell phone into the bedroom. In the bedroom, no matter what position you are in while looking at your cell phone, it will inevitably cause cervical spine deformation. Sleeping with your neck resting on the armrest of the sofa or watching TV in that position is also very bad for your cervical spine health.
● Exercise for prevention and treatment
To return the deformed cervical spine to its original state, continuous management is necessary. Professor Do and physical therapist Hyunju Ahn have presented an exercise method (see guide photo) that anyone can try.
![“Turtle neck, straight neck… Follow this exercise”[베스트 닥터의 베스트 건강법]](https://dimg.donga.com/wps/NEWS/IMAGE/2024/08/31/126776103.2.jpg "“Turtle neck, straight neck… Follow this exercise”[베스트 닥터의 베스트 건강법]")
This exercise is also effective in preventing cervical spine deformities. All exercises should be performed within a pain-free range. All movements should be performed slowly and accurately. Breathe naturally as usual. It is good to do it frequently whenever you have time.
2024-08-30 17:01:32