Osteochondrosis is a problem not only for doctors and specialists in the field of physical therapy, but also for fitness trainers. After all, sports are very much overwhelmed by the spinal column, and the already damaged spine requires a special approach. In addition, people with osteochondrosis often have diseases from other systems, which also needs to be considered when setting up a training program.
There are two opposing views about training for people with osteochondrosis. Some believe that the back should not be overloaded, others believe that it is necessary to strengthen the muscular framework as much as possible to help the spine. Which of them is right?
Causes and stages of osteochondrosis
Although osteochondrosis is the most common cause of back pain, there are other diseases with similar symptoms. First of all, these are herniated discs, sciatica, various types of tumors, muscle overstrain, kidney and heart diseases. Therefore, the cause of the discomfort must find out the doctor.
In osteochondrosis, there is a slow disruption of the structure of the vertebral bodies and intervertebral cartilage, the narrowing of the intervertebral fissure and the formation of bone protrusions on the vertebrae. This all leads to a violation of the shape and relative position of the vertebrae.
Owing to these changes, the vertebrae lose stability and can shift relative to each other, squeezing the nerve roots. The brain, in turn, regards the compression of the roots as a breakdown and signals this with the help of pain. It is the strength of pain that is an indicator of the degree of damage to the entire system. The greater the pain, the more there should be cause for concern.
Pathological chain does not end with the appearance of pain. The body, trying to compensate for the lost functions of the spine, responds to pain by increasing muscle tone in the problem area. Muscle spasm leads to an even greater displacement of the discs between themselves, and the symptoms are aggravated.
Prevention and rehabilitation of osteochondrosis
Osteochondrosis affects the entire body, so the prevention and treatment of this disease should be comprehensive. In drawing up a training plan, it is necessary to take into account some pathophysiological basis of the disease:
- Exclude drums (running, jumping) and axial loads with a weight greater than 3 kg. in order to avoid even greater compression of the intervertebral disc.
- Avoid excessive over-bending of the spine during stretching. This can lead to overstretching of the ligaments and further destabilize the spine.
- In case of severe pain syndrome, it is necessary to develop an individual training program together with a physiotherapy specialist.