Swimming is a good aerobic exercise that allows the whole body to exercise its muscle groups, and it can also have a good effect on weight loss and body shaping, as well as helping to improve cardiorespiratory function and strengthen resistance.

Many ambulatory workers or white-collar workers with varying degrees of cervical spondylosis choose to swim in order to relieve the discomfort, so can swimming really relieve the symptoms of cervical spondylosis?

Can swimming cure cervical spondylosis?

For people who have not swum much before or do not know how to swim, if they swim because of cervical spondylosis, it is easy to increase the burden on the neck. During swimming, the upper limbs are used to lift the upper body and then slowly lift the head and neck up and out of the water to complete breathing. However, this movement is not standard for different groups of people and generally relies on forceful lifting of the neck and head to breathe. Although the neck muscles can be exercised, damage is caused by excessive movement of the cervical joints and intervertebral discs, especially in cases of herniated discs and spinal stenosis.

Why is the cervical spine uncomfortable after swimming instead?

1, no good warm-up: before each swim should be 5 ~ 10 minutes of warm-up, the purpose is to move the muscles and joints, improve the coordination of muscles and bones, promote the whole body qi and blood running, to prevent sudden swimming when the state of the neck suddenly changed. Without a good warm-up before swimming, it brings a greater impact to the neck, thus producing cervical discomfort.

2, wrong swimming posture: activities in the water and land activities, the body withstand the resistance is not the same, the water activities withstand the resistance is large. Without the correct swimming posture, it is easy to cause muscle strain; repeatedly doing backward stretching action is easy to damage the cervical joints, especially excessive backward leaning can damage the nerve roots and spinal cord, which leads to upper limb distension and numbness.

3, no good warmth measures: after swimming without drying the torso and hair, plus the whole body pores open, suddenly blowing cold wind or air conditioning vulnerable to wind and cold, resulting in cold and damp invasion, thus triggering cervical discomfort.

Which movements can relax the shoulders and neck?

1、Open shoulder massage

First rub both hands together and then repeatedly rub the neck and neck and shoulder junction, which can improve local blood circulation and raise the local temperature to help remove wind and cold.

2、Standing breaststroke

First of all, stand well and open both feet as wide as your shoulders. Slowly inhale while the two arms are slowly raised, two palms placed in front of the navel together, slowly reach forward and up, always let the arms straighten out until; followed by slow exhale when the two palms open, palms facing the sides, let the hands slowly draw circles until back to the waist, so that the shoulders and neck can be relaxed.

Warm Tips

After understanding the above, swimming cannot cure cervical spondylosis, but may increase cervical discomfort due to the wrong way of swimming. You should avoid behaviours that can harm your cervical spine, do not work long hours or keep your head down, stand and sit properly, and move your cervical spine from time to time.