Cervical spondylitis is a common degenerative condition of the cervical (neck) spine that is mostly caused due to age related conditions. It mostly appears in the people above the age of 40 years, the most common symptoms being intermittent persistent neck and shoulder pain. The pain can be chronic or episodic depending upon the periods of remission.

Here are few of the do’s for people affected from cervical spondylitis:

• Do regular exercise to maintain neck strength, flexibility and range of motion
• Use firm mattress and thin pillow
• Do turn to one side while getting up from lying down position
• Wear a cervical column during the day
• Regularly walk or engage in low impact aerobic activity
• Take break while driving, watching TV or when working on a computer in order to relax the head from the same position
• Use a seat belt when in car and use firm collar while traveling
• When in acute pain take rest, immobilize and neck and take medications as prescribed

Cervical spondylitis patients should avoid the followings:

• Avoid sitting for prolonged period of time in stressful postures
• Avoid running and high-impact aerobics
• Do not lift heavy weights on head or back
• Avoid bad roads if traveling on two or four wheelers
• Do not drive for long hours; take breaks frequently
• Avoid leaning on one side of the neck for longer period of time
• Do not take many pillows below the neck and shoulder while sleeping
• Do not lie flat on stomach
• Do not twist the neck or the body in order top turn around,Instead turn around by moving the feet first
• Do not undergo spinal manipulations in case of acute pain

The bad postures that can worsen the cervical spondylitis are:

• The head held forward from normal position
• The shoulders held up and forward
• The chest bent and rounded
• The pelvic area tilted backwards
• The hips, knees and ankles bent