Can the “Head-Down Method” really cure cervical spondylosis?

In recent years, the incidence of cervical spondylosis has been increasing year by year, and the incidence population has a tendency to gradually become younger. Some netizens recommend the "head-down method", "lie flat on the bed, tilt your head back and hang it on the edge of the bed for a few minutes, lie upside down for 5 minutes every night, and you will immediately feel a lot more comfortable in your neck after getting up!" Not only can you relieve cervical spondylosis without moving, but it also has many benefits such as "increasing blood supply to the brain" and "assisting sleep". Is this true?

Zhai Bingsheng, director of the Department of Orthopedics at Beijing Tong Ren Tang Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, believes that the "head-down method" is not advisable. For people who look down at their phones for a long time, the curvature of the cervical spine will become straight, or there will be a trend of straightening the curvature of the cervical spine. After "hanging" for a long time, the cervical spine will move forward.

At the same time, hanging your head backward will cause blood to quickly gather in the head, causing dizziness. For people with vascular sclerosis and vertebral artery sclerosis, this action is even more dangerous. There is no scientific basis for "promoting blood circulation in the head."

01

Is it okay not to use a pillow when cervical spondylosis attacks?

Cervical spondylosis is particularly uncomfortable after an attack, and in severe cases it is even difficult to sleep all night. There is a saying that sleeping flat on your back without a pillow at this time is beneficial to symptom recovery.

From a medical point of view, it is completely OK to not use a pillow for a short period of time as long as you can tolerate it and your cervical spine feels comfortable and can fall asleep peacefully . However, if you do not use a pillow for a long time, you will experience various discomforts. This is because the cervical spine is in a hyperextended position for too long, which can easily cause the front cervical muscles to be overstretched and cause strain. The facet joints of the cervical spine are also in a hyperextended state for a long time, which can cause premature degeneration. All of these can cause discomfort in the corresponding muscles and joints.

Therefore, when cervical spondylosis attacks, it is okay to sleep flat without a pillow temporarily, but after the pain symptoms return to normal, it is better for the health of the cervical spine to use a pillow when sleeping.

02

How can people who use their mobile phones prevent cervical spondylosis?

The key to preventing and treating cervical spondylosis is to do " two no's and one move ". "Two no's" means not to maintain a posture for a long time and not to be attacked by wind and cold; "one move" means to exercise the neck and back regularly.

Strengthening the exercise of the neck and back muscles is an important measure to prevent and treat cervical spondylosis. For office workers who sit at their desks for a long time, remember not to always maintain the same sitting posture. Change your posture frequently, or stand up and move around every hour or so, such as shrugging your shoulders, doing some chest expansion exercises, or raising your head. These can accelerate blood circulation in the neck and back and ensure that the body's meridians are unobstructed.

The amplitude of the activity should not be too large, and the frequency can be slightly slower. In addition, patients can seek treatment from a doctor and choose the appropriate treatment plan based on their condition.

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Reference sources: China Youth Daily, Health Times, People's Health, Guangzhou Health Commission