Causes of cervical spondylosis

Written by Li Jie

Orthopedics

Updated on May 05, 2025

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It is currently believed that the fundamental cause of cervical spondylosis is due to degenerative changes in the cervical spine caused by aging, poor life postures, and work habits. These degenerative changes lead to instability between the vertebrae, resulting in cervical disc herniation or localized bone hyperplasia. The herniated discs and bone growth compress nearby nerve roots, the spinal cord, and vertebral arteries, causing symptoms of compression in these structures and leading to cervical spondylosis. There are also some factors that trigger cervical spondylosis, with common ones being exposure to cold, excessive fatigue, and poor lifestyle and work habits. Paying attention to these factors can generally prevent the onset of cervical spondylosis.

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Written by Guan Yu Hua

Orthopedic Surgery

1min 20sec

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How to do cervical traction for cervical spondylosis?

Cervical traction therapy can restore the physiological curvature of the cervical spine to relieve the compression of nerves and blood vessels caused by cervical spondylosis. You can purchase a cervical traction device from a pharmaceutical company or pharmacy, as it is a ready-made product. Additionally, there is an integrated traction belt made from canvas, which grips the forehead, lower jaw, and the back of the head. The belt then folds into a triangle shape upwards, with a loop in the middle through which a rope is threaded. This rope can be hung from a beam or a traction frame. By holding the rope, you perform a neck traction exercise by pulling upwards. This vertical traction can alleviate the symptoms of cervical spondylosis. It is recommended to perform traction once or twice daily, ideally morning and evening, with each session lasting about 20 minutes. Typically, symptoms can be relieved in about seven to ten days, and this is quite beneficial for cervical spondylosis. Additionally, when sleeping, try to use a low pillow, and avoid prolonged periods of bending your head down or engaging in activities such as working at a desk, playing mahjong, reading, or using a computer. Generally, following these guidelines can help prevent the recurrence of cervical spondylosis.

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Written by Li Jie

Orthopedics

1min 11sec

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Is cervical spondylosis nauseating?

Cervical spondylosis is a very common disease clinically and has a variety of pathological types. Generally, we classify it into several types including localized cervical spondylosis, nerve root type cervical spondylosis, spinal cord type cervical spondylosis, vertebral artery type cervical spondylosis, sympathetic nerve type cervical spondylosis, mixed type cervical spondylosis, and esophageal type cervical spondylosis. One type can present symptoms such as nausea, called vertebral artery type cervical spondylosis. Due to the compression of the vertebral artery in patients, symptoms may appear such as headache, dizziness, tinnitus, blurred vision, memory decline, and even nausea and vomiting. In such cases, we recommend patients to use medicines that relax muscles and improve microcirculation. Once the symptoms of vertebral artery compression are alleviated, symptoms such as dizziness and nausea will also be relieved. Note: Medication should be used under the guidance of a doctor.

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Written by Li Jin

Orthopedics

1min 2sec

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How to treat cervical spondylosis?

For the treatment of cervical spondylosis, it is necessary to consider various factors such as the patient's symptoms, the stage of disease progression, and imaging examinations comprehensively. Treatment for cervical spondylosis is mainly divided into non-surgical and surgical treatments. Non-surgical treatment includes cultivating good neck usage habits, avoiding prolonged sitting with the head down, and not sleeping on pillows that are too high. Performing neck exercises can also be beneficial in alleviating symptoms of cervical spondylosis. Additionally, when symptoms occur, symptomatic treatment can include the use of anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving medications, nerve-nourishing drugs, and cartilage nutrition drugs, combined with hot compresses, physical therapy, and cervical traction, which can positively improve symptoms. In cases of severe nerve or vascular compression symptoms, surgical treatment may be necessary.

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Written by Na Hong Wei

Orthopedics

55sec

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Symptoms of cervical spondylosis of the nerve root type.

Cervical radiculopathy is the most common type of cervical spondylosis encountered in clinical practice. Clinically, it presents as partial or complete pain and numbness in the area innervated by the compressed nerve root, which is related to body posture. Firstly, the cause of cervical radiculopathy is compression of the nerve root. Secondly, compression of different nerves leads to numbness and pain in different regions. Thirdly, changes in posture, such as sneezing or tilting the head back, can exacerbate the symptoms. In clinical examinations, two tests are generally performed: the Spurling's test and the traction test. If both tests are positive, the disease can generally be diagnosed. Additional diagnostic aids such as X-rays, CT scans, or MRIs can also be used to make a definitive diagnosis of the specific nerve root compression.

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Written by Xie Yi Song

Orthopedics

1min 55sec

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Symptoms of cervical spondylosis

Many people think that cervical spondylosis is just neck pain, but actually, after developing cervical spondylosis, there can be other symptoms. For example, the early symptoms of cervical spondylosis are generally diverse and complex. Most patients initially experience mild symptoms, which gradually worsen over time. Some patients have severe symptoms, and clinically, it is generally divided into five major types. The first type is cervical cervical spondylosis, where the main symptoms are soreness and swelling in the head, neck, shoulders, back, and arms, neck stiffness, and limited movement. The soreness in the neck and shoulders can radiate to the suboccipital area and upper limbs. The second type is vertebral artery type, where patients generally experience dizziness, a sensation that the room is spinning, and severe cases may include nausea, vomiting, and bedrest, with a few instances of vertigo and sudden collapse. The third, and most common, is spinal cervical spondylosis, where it is particularly strenuous to hold objects, which often fall to the ground, instability in walking, as well as spasms in the neck and shoulder muscles, increased muscle tone in the limbs, and even paralysis. The fourth type is radicular cervical spondylosis, with neck pain, acid swelling and distension pain in the unilateral or bilateral upper limbs, numbness, and sometimes intense pain that is unbearable. The fifth most common type is sympathetic nerve cervical spondylosis, where patients may experience blurred vision, dizziness, abnormal sweating, persistent low-grade fever, palpitations, chest tightness, rapid heartbeat, often with insomnia and frequent dreaming. The sixth type is the mixed type, which may present a combination of symptoms from the types mentioned above.