Cervical stenosis might sound intimidating, but it simply means the narrowing of the spinal canal, where the spinal cord and nerve roots are found. Sometimes, you may be diagnosed with cervical stenosis with no pain at all.
This condition can lead to pressure on the spinal cord, known as cervical myelopathy, or on the nerve roots as they exit the vertebrae, called cervical radiculopathy. Various factors can cause cervical stenosis, such as:- Arthritis, which leads to extra bone growth
- increase in the size of the ligamentum flavum, a ligament along the spinal canal.
Cervical stenosis symptoms
- Nerve pain in one or both of your arms
- Pain in your neck
- Weakness in the arm or hand
- Difficulty with fine motor tasks, like buttons
How can physical therapy help my cervical stenosis?
While physical therapy cannot expand the spinal canal, it can significantly support the neck's other structures.
We begin by relaxing your muscles and connective tissues to alleviate pain and enhance the muscle's length-tension relationship. This approach helps the muscles function more effectively, providing stability to the neck and upper extremities.
Neural flossing is another technique used to facilitate nerve movement in the upper arm (and leg). Nerves can become restricted by bones, muscles, and connective tissues, but flossing them—similar to flossing your teeth—can help them move more freely. This process reduces tension on the nerves, potentially alleviating nerve pain in your arm. We often focus on flossing the median, radial, and ulnar nerves in the upper extremity. For more insights on neck pain and improvement strategies, visit our cervicalgia blog.
Physical therapy for cervical stenosis in Columbia and Baltimore, Maryland
If you have neck pain reach out to our office today!
