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.<\/p>\n
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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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Preksha \u2014 Yoga management<\/p>\n
Shat kriyas – Neti kriya
\nYogic exercises – Of head, neck, shoulders, chest, arms, back and waist
\nAsanas – Pawan muktasana, Vajrasana, Shashank-asana, Bhujangasana, Makarasana, Dhanurasana and Matsyendrasana
\nPranayama – Nadi shodhan
\nKayotsarga – 30 minutes
\nPreksha – Perception of deep breathing
\nAnupreksha – Contemplation of the correction of vertebral column abnormality
\nDietary recommendations
\n\u2022 To consume plenty of protein and boiled vegetables
\n\u2022 To increase the intake of fresh seasonal fruits<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"