Cervical Spondylitis is an age-related condition and it usually affects people who are in their late fifties and above. In fact, it is the most common form of problems relating to the spinal cord in older people. It affects the vertebrae of the neck and the symptoms are neck, shoulder and upper back pain. The pain can be mild but it can also go up the scale to be excruciating. The pain can also radiate to the head and further down the spine.
What causes this condition? In all probability, it is due to the disks between the vertebrae degenerating with the advancing years. They degenerate because with age, they lose moisture, get fragmented and even collapse. The first signs are usually seen in the jelly-like nucleus pulposus which lies at the centre of the spinal disk. As these start losing their elasticity, the space between the disks begins to get dry. As the condition gets worse, bony spurs form in the central canal and the facet joints or bones in the neck degenerate as well. The ligaments around it and those connecting the muscles and the bones in the neck also begin to harden and stiffen so when you add it all together, it means pressure on the nerves and the spinal cord, resulting in pain. With aging, the bones around become thicker and this further puts pressure on the spinal cord because the area of the canal narrows. Sometimes, the disks begin to bulge and this makes the substance between the disks stick out from between the vertebrae.
This condition affects both men and women but men are more affected and almost all of them suffer from it in some degree after they turn seventy. When the condition becomes very severe, there can be permanent disability. So you need to try and prevent this happening as much as possible. While you cannot prevent it affecting you, you can help to delay the degeneration if you try.
Some things need to be given up as you grow older, your body just does not have the elasticity to bounce back so high impact sports and activities should be stopped. This would include activities like running if you suffer from even the mildest pain in the neck. Yes, you do need to get regular exercise but things like walking and swimming would be preferable. You will have to do exercises at home, too, especially exercises that will stretch and strengthen the neck muscles. The muscles need to be kept flexible and strong. A great deal of good will be done if you make sure you sit up straight, walk straight and maintain a good posture without slouching or lounging. When you are in a vehicle, it is a good idea to protect yourself by wearing your seatbelt so the chances of whiplash are minimized. You should also avoid poring over any activity for too long and stand up and walk around every once in a while.
There could be a genetic leaning towards Cervical Spondylitis as it does seem to affect certain families sooner than others. Smoking is a big contributor so quitting is a good way to delay the onset of this condition. The other risk factors could be certain sports and activities like gymnastics, football, carrying heavy loads and dancing. While these causes have not been conclusively proved, it is felt that certain activities can contribute to it.