In modern society, as the use of smartphones and computers increases explosively, the number of patients with ‘straight neck syndrome’ and ‘turtle neck syndrome’ is rapidly increasing. Cervical deformity is a situation that requires caution because it goes beyond simple discomfort and can develop into a serious health problem.
A normal neck maintains a C-shaped curve, or ‘cervical lordosis’. Cervical lordosis effectively distributes the weight of the head and minimizes pressure on the cervical discs. However, if you adopt a bad posture such as leaning your head forward or sticking it out, this curve will disappear and your neck will turn into a straight neck.
A straight neck is a state in which the cervical vertebrae are aligned in a straight line. This change alone can reduce neck movement by 30% and increase the pressure on the cervical discs by up to 90%. Turtle neck is a state in which cervical lordosis has completely disappeared, creating an inverted C shape, and the head is held forward, putting excessive strain on the nape muscles.
The biggest problem if this condition is left unattended is that it can worsen into a cervical disc. Cervical disc herniation is a disease in which the cartilage tissue that acts as a cushion between the cervical vertebrae, that is, the disc, herniates and puts pressure on the nerves. Initially, stiffness in the nape and shoulders may appear, but as symptoms worsen, it may develop into numbness and pain in the arms.
As cervical disc disease worsens, arm strength may weaken or sensation may become dull, and in extreme cases, hand motor function may also deteriorate, causing great disruption in daily life. Additionally, chronic pain in the neck area can have negative effects on mental health, such as sleep disorders and depression. Therefore, if symptoms of cervical disc herniation appear, you should immediately visit a pain medicine clinic and receive a detailed examination.
Fortunately, in the early stages of cervical disc herniation, it can be improved with conservative treatment such as medication, physical therapy, injection therapy, and manual therapy. Non-surgical treatment is usually performed for about 3 to 6 months, and 80 to 90% of patients return to their daily lives without surgery. Drug treatment helps reduce inflammation and relieve pain, and physical therapy is a method of reducing pain and strengthening muscles through physical stimulation. Injection treatment improves pain by reducing inflammation by injecting medication directly into the painful area.
However, in many cases, it is difficult to restore an already deformed body to its original state with these treatments alone, so it is better to combine manual therapy. Manual therapy is a treatment method in which the therapist communicates one-on-one with the patient based on anatomical knowledge and a specialist’s diagnosis. Using only the therapist’s hands and tools, it relieves musculoskeletal imbalances and improves pain by maximizing the healing power of the human body. . This treatment aims to restore proper alignment of the cervical spine and prevent further damage.
Manual therapy requires at least 10 consistent treatments. Because it is difficult to expect dramatic effects from short-term treatment, you must be patient and receive continuous treatment. It is desirable to analyze the body shape using the latest body shape analysis equipment and proceed with a systematic system for each treatment session.
Jeon Seong-bae, head of Gunpo Sanboncheok Pain Medicine Clinic, said, “If you have symptoms of turtle neck or straight neck, you should not neglect them and prevent the worsening of cervical disc disease through early treatment. “You can do it, so it’s important not to miss this period,” he emphasized.
Reporter Jeong Hee-won happy1@segye.com
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