Arthritis of the Neck - Cervical Spondylosis

Cervical spondylosis is more common in people who have had neck injuries. Such trauma might include work and recreational-related stress, for example:

• carrying axialloads on your head (for example, carrying a heavy surfboard down the beach to the waves)
• professional dancing
• professional gymnastics

Certain congential, genetic and acquired risk factors for cervical spondylosis have been identified by researchers:

• The condition may run in families.
• A congenitally narrow spinal canal increases the risk of developing cervical spondylosis with myelopathy. With a narrow spinal canal, the spinal cord -- a very sensitive structure that relays feelings to the brain and movement commands from the brain to the muscles -- has less space to fit inside the column of bone it occupies. Spinal canals also narrow as a result of the age-related changes of thickening of spinal ligaments and bone. This type of narrowing has the same effect as congenital narrowing.
• Several varieties of excessive segmental motion such as atlantotaxial instability, often present in persons with Down syndrome, cerebral palsy and rheumatoid arthritis, are known risk factors.
• Smoking contributes to degenerative disk disease, and is therefore a risk factor.
• History of trauma (hits and blows) to the forehead predispose one to cervical spondylosis.

Date Created: May 16, 2006