Ankylosing spondylitis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the joints of the axial skeleton, manifested clinically by pain and progressive stiffening of the spine. The age of onset is usually the late teens or early 20s. The incidence is greater in males than in females and symptoms are more prominent in men, with ascending involvement of the spine more likely to occur.
The onset of pain is usually gradual, and is characterised by severe pain and spasm in the back of cervical region of neck, shoulders and lower spinal region, which further radiate down. Movement of neck, shoulders and back becomes very difficult and painful. It is very often associated with tension headache. As the disease advances, sysptoms progress in a cephalad direction and back motion becomes limited, with the normal lumber curve flattened and thoracic curvature exaggerated. Chest expansion is often limited.
Cervical spondylitis is characterised by muscular spasm and pain in back of neck and shoulders. It further expands into the far regions of shoulders, arms and forearms and is accompanied by needle pricking pain sensations. In the later stages movement of neck becomes restricted and arms become almost motionless because of muscular weakness. Radiographic examinations show degeneration of the vertebral column both in neck region and downward area of the spine. Such degeneration includes narrowing of the intervertebral disc space, so that the area appears worn away and unusual elongated bony projections appear. These are called osteophytes. The space through which blood vessels run becomes narrowed, which causes extra pressure on the vessels, reducing the blood supply to the cranial region including brain, and leading to pain.
Preksha — Yoga management
Shat kriyas – Neti kriya
Yogic exercises – Of head, neck, shoulders, chest, arms, back and waist
Asanas – Pawan muktasana, Vajrasana, Shashank-asana, Bhujangasana, Makarasana, Dhanurasana and Matsyendrasana
Pranayama – Nadi shodhan
Kayotsarga – 30 minutes
Preksha – Perception of deep breathing
Anupreksha – Contemplation of the correction of vertebral column abnormality
Dietary recommendations
• To consume plenty of protein and boiled vegetables
• To increase the intake of fresh seasonal fruits