Manual therapy for osteochondrosis of the spine

Manual therapy has become very popular in the treatment of diseases of the musculoskeletal system, including osteochondrosis. Disputes around this type of therapy over time do not cease in the scientific community, nor among patients who have resorted to this type of treatment.

It is common knowledge that the main task of manual therapy is the elimination of pain and recovery of the osteoarticular apparatus and spine in their degenerative-dystrophic lesions.

Manual therapy is used for lesions of the spinal column, its individual elements, with a functional blockade of mobility, which has functional limitations. When carrying out the treatment, it is important to take into account the fact that the mobility in the segments of the spine can vary.

Manual therapy and osteochondrosis of the spine

It is revealed that with osteochondrosis change of at least one vertebral-motor segment, spasmic contractions of muscles occur, which lead to strong pain sensations. Muscle spasms are the result of primary functional changes and disorders. In this regard, relaxation techniques are performed after treatment of the underlying disease, including after the removal of the functional blockade of the spine.

To achieve high effectiveness of the techniques, the following rules should be followed:

  • Before exercising, it is necessary to warm up strained muscles;
  • When stretching the muscles, do not do jerks, but you need to gradually, gradually increase the stretching;
  • All exercises should be performed in a comfortable position that will maximize the stretching of the muscle at the point of impact;
  • In case of stretching, in which it is necessary to perform a turn on both the trunk and the head, the movement of the eyes at the same time with the rotation of the head will promote a better relaxation of the muscles;
  • If the eyes look down, the muscles relax easier. This is especially important if the trunk needs to be tilted down;
  • To stretch the muscles well, the weight of the limbs or head should be used, reinforcing the weight of the other, free limb;
  • The manual therapy session begins with the maximum stretching of the muscle, but without any significant pain. This is necessary to bring the muscle to the state of prestress;
  • Before repeating the stretching, it is necessary to make a motion without effort in the opposite direction and within a half-minute to fix the muscles in this condition;
  • Spasmodic muscle is stretched to the first pain, when a person takes a deep breath of air. Light pain is a signal to stop stretching. Then the muscle is fixed in this position for half a minute.

The removal of spasm and improvement of blood flow disappear after several approaches of stretching the muscle.

Manual therapy is considered a manual manipulation and consists in the influence of the hands of the doctor on the spine and limbs of the patient. The most popular massage therapy in manual therapy. The history of massage, as well as various thermal procedures, originates from ancient times. Even in the medical treatises of Japan, China, Ancient Rome, Ancient Egypt and Greece, it was described the benefits of massage procedures for the human body.

Manual therapy includes a variety of massage techniques. Their obvious advantage is that their impact is easily controlled, and the effect on muscle tone is well studied.

With the help of massage stretching and pressing effects on the patient's body are carried out. The resulting impulses come from the skin receptors. They pass through the proprioceptors of ligaments, muscles, articular capsules, tendons, prompting the nervous system to elicit a reflex response. The duration and intensity of the massage determine the nature and strength of the reflex reaction.

It should be noted that the massage will promote even greater relaxation if the patient arrives in a relaxed state. And vice versa, massage increases activity and gives vivacity, if combined with gymnastics.

Massage can reduce muscle tone if the muscles are very tight. And if the muscle tone, on the contrary, is weak, sluggish, then applying the appropriate massage technique, you can significantly improve the tone and activity.