Description

Neck and Waist Flattening

Our spine is made up of 32-33 bones called
“vertebra” arranged one on top of the other and constitutes the most
important support element of our movement system. Thanks to its
interesting structure, while it supports our body while sitting and standing,
it allows even the hardest and sudden movements to be made. The vertebrae
are tightly connected to each other through ligaments and there are cartilages
between them, called “discs”. Thanks to these structures, there
is no slippage between the vertebrae under normal conditions and we can easily
make all movements.

When viewed from the side, 3 curvatures are seen in the
spine. Among these, the ones in the neck and waist area are inward, and
the curvature in the back area is outward. Thanks to these curvatures, our
spine is resistant to impacts and weight lifting. The discs between the
vertebrae increase flexibility during movements; Thus, we can do a lot of
hard work without realizing it during our daily life. However, in some
cases, problems in this system in the spine and related painful problems may occur. For
example, as a result of the muscles in the neck and waist region remaining in
the same position for a long time, the internal tension of the muscles
increases and the curvature of the spine in that area gradually begins to
decrease. Sitting or working in the same position for a long time,
constantly lifting heavy, Spasms that develop in muscles due to
challenging positions such as leaning forward or doing heavy lifting cause an
increase in the pressure inside the discs. Thus, flattening occurs in the
waist and neck area. The flattening of the spine leads to the
deterioration of the structure of the discs in that area in the long term, and
after a while more serious painful disorders such as herniated disc or neck
hernia may occur.

The most important symptom of flattening in the waist and
neck area is regional pain. There may also be chronic headaches in neck
straightening and patients feel the need to use pain medication
constantly. Waist and neck pains increase especially during sitting and
standing up and leaning forward movements, gaining continuity over
time. In cases that are not treated in the early period, waist and neck
hernias occur, and the pain in the arms and legs causes the situation to
worsen.

It is very important to be treated in the early period in
order to prevent hernia formation in the waist and neck region and to prevent
degeneration, that is, calcification of these areas.

In case of back and neck pain that does not go away in a
few days, it is necessary to apply to a specialist physician and have the
necessary examinations done. Flattening in the waist and neck area can be
easily detected with conventional x-ray graphs. After the degree of
flattening is determined, a physical therapy program of 15-20 sessions together
with muscle relaxant drugs will significantly reduce the complaints. The
most important issue after the treatment is to continue the neck and waist
exercises. In addition, it is necessary to take measures such as
preventing posture and sitting disorders, improving working conditions, not
leaning forward too much, and adjusting the height of the work table. When
all these are fulfilled, it may be possible to treat waist-neck straightening
and prevent the emergence of further ailments.