What does it mean when the cervical curvature becomes straight? Can it be restored?

This is the 3441th article of Da Yi Xiao Hu

With the increase of people who use their phones more and more, cervical spine problems are also increasing, and the trend is obvious that younger people are suffering from them. The outpatient clinic often encounters young patients who come to the clinic for treatment due to neck pain and discomfort. After taking cervical spine X-rays, the imaging report shows that the cervical spine curvature has become straightened. After seeing the report, the patient looks confused: "What does the curvature straightening mean? Is it serious? Can it return to normal?"

What is cervical spine straightening?

Under normal circumstances, the cervical spine has a physiological curvature of 20-25° convex forward. Its function is to keep the eyes looking forward when standing and walking, and it can absorb shocks, which has a certain protective effect on the head and spinal cord. The maintenance of the cervical curvature mainly relies on the elasticity of the intervertebral disc, and the good tension of the muscles and ligaments in the front and back of the cervical spine. Once the balance is broken, the cervical curvature will become straight. The straightening of the physiological curvature of the cervical spine means that the physiological curvature of the cervical spine disappears, so the lateral view of the cervical spine shows that the cervical spine is straight in the image, which is also called the disappearance of the physiological curvature of the cervical spine. In severe cases, the cervical spine may bulge backward, which is called cervical kyphosis.

Why does it become straight?

The straightening or arching of the cervical curvature is mainly caused by improper posture, such as long-term sitting with the head down and bad sleeping posture, dehydration and degeneration of the cervical intervertebral disc nucleus pulposus, and the gradual disappearance of the cervical lordosis, and even straightening or arching. Of course, this is a very long process.

What are the hazards?

After the cervical curvature becomes straightened, the tension in the posterior muscles and ligaments may increase, causing long-term and chronic strain of local muscles and muscle fatigue, which in turn may cause neck stiffness and chronic pain, dizziness, nausea, or upper limb pain, radiating numbness and other phenomena.

what to do?

First of all, we should actively correct bad posture and avoid keeping the cervical spine in one posture for a long time, especially avoid lowering the head for a long time (such as looking at the mobile phone or computer for a long time, and avoid working at a desk).

Adjust the height of the pillow, not too high or too soft, and place it behind the neck to maintain the physiological curvature of the cervical spine.

Strengthening neck function exercises: such as tilting the head back, shrugging shoulders, retracting the neck, playing badminton, flying kites, looking up at the stars, swimming, etc. are all beneficial to correcting the abnormality of the physiological curvature of the cervical spine.

Rational use of drugs: For patients with obvious pain, appropriate use of anti-inflammatory analgesics (such as celecoxib) or drugs to relieve muscle spasms (such as eperisone hydrochloride) can be used. For patients with obvious local tenderness points, closed treatment can be considered;

In severe cases, you should go to the hospital for treatment. Under the guidance of a doctor, traction, manual reduction, acupuncture, massage, physical therapy, etc. can all be very helpful in restoring the cervical curvature.

The above methods can all improve the straightened cervical spine to a certain extent, but complete recovery is very difficult, so prevention is the key.

Author: Department of Orthopedics, Tianjin Third Central Hospital

Guo ShuzhangChief Physician