There is a protruding bone in the cervical spine

Under normal circumstances, the spine behind our neck has a very natural curve, but in life, the spine of many people does bulge out, especially when they lower their heads. The bulge will be particularly obvious, and with age, the bulge will become more obvious. When there is no special feeling, there is no need to treat the bulge.

1. The seventh cervical vertebra of a normal person is originally protruding. The "spinous process" (the bone that protrudes) extending backwards of the seventh cervical vertebra of the human body is particularly long. When you lower your head, this bone will protrude obviously, so this cervical vertebra that stands out from the crowd is also called "prominent vertebra".

2. As you age, the seventh cervical vertebra will gradually protrude and the intervertebral disc will age and degenerate, which is a natural physiological process. A simple slight protrusion of the seventh cervical vertebra is an early manifestation of intervertebral disc degeneration, just like fine lines on the face, there is no need to make a fuss about it. But in addition to this, if you also experience pain or numbness in your head, neck, shoulders, arms, and hands, you need to pay attention to your usual sitting and standing posture, and spend less time looking down at your phone or books.

Ways to protect your cervical spine:

1. Correct bad posture in life to prevent chronic injuries

Chronic strain of the soft tissues of the neck and shoulders is the pathological basis for cervical spondylosis. Bad posture in life is one of the main causes of chronic strain. Therefore, correcting bad posture in daily life is of great significance to the prevention of cervical spondylosis.

2. Use pillows properly

The pillow is a protective tool for the cervical spine. An adult spends one-third of his or her time sleeping (on the pillow) every day, so the pillow must be suitable for the physiological requirements of the neck. When a person is in deep sleep, the neck and shoulder muscles are completely relaxed, and only the elasticity of the intervertebral ligaments and joint capsules are used to maintain the normal relationship of the intervertebral structures.

If you use a pillow of inappropriate height for a long time, which causes excessive flexion of a certain part of the cervical spine, the ligaments and joint capsules there will be stretched and damaged, causing cervical instability and joint dislocation, which will then develop into cervical spondylosis. Therefore, a reasonable pillow must have two things: scientific structure and good support.

3. Prevent chronic strain

Due to work requirements, some jobs require special postures or working in forced positions for a long time. If not taken seriously, chronic strain is likely to occur and gradually develop into spinal diseases.

To prevent chronic strain, in addition to doing balance exercises during work or in spare time, you can also choose certain sports according to different ages and physical conditions to strengthen your muscle strength and improve your physical fitness.