Vertebrology, overview of methods of treatment of the spine

In recent years there has been an increase in the incidence of musculoskeletal system among the population. In particular, the number of degenerative-dystrophic diseases of the spine and joints increased significantly, such as: osteochondrosis, protrusions and hernias of the intervertebral discs, spondylosis, arthrosis and others. Such an increase in morbidity can be attributed to a decrease in mobility, prolonged work in a forced position, a change in the nature of nutrition and the ecological situation.

In connection with the increase in the incidence of the spine, the directions of medicine aimed at studying the causes of this pathology, its prevention, diagnosis and treatment become more urgent. This direction is vertebrology - a new medicine range, the main task of which is an in-depth study of the causes of spine diseases, mechanisms for their development, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of these diseases. Also in the task of vertebrology is the development and study of new methods of diagnosis and treatment of vertebrogenic diseases.

The spine is one of the most complex structures of our body. Through the vertebral column passes a huge number of nerve fibers that go to virtually all organs and tissues of the body. The state of the spine depends on the working capacity of the whole organism as a whole. Given the complexity of the structure and function of the spine, the problems of this body are engaged in various specialties: orthopedics and traumatology, neurology, neurosurgery, etc. Vertebrology stands at the intersection of these sciences and purposefully studies the problems of the spine and related pathology.

The physician vertebrologist has the qualification of one of these specialties, and is purposefully engaged in the diagnosis and treatment of spine disease.

The vertebrologist's competence includes such diseases of the spine as: a herniated disc, osteochondrosis, spondylosis, spondylarthrosis, spondylolisthesis and other degenerative, inflammatory and metabolic diseases, as well as diseases of other organs and systems directly associated with spine pathology.

To diagnose diseases of the spine, general clinical, orthopedic and neurological examination methods are used, as well as instrumental (X-ray, magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasound, computed tomography, etc.) and laboratory diagnostics.

Treatment of the spine in vertebrology is divided into surgical and conservative methods of treatment. Conservative methods include drug treatment - the use of drugs to analgesia, relieve inflammation, improve tissue trophism and metabolic processes. Drugs can be injected orally, parenterally, or directly into the locus of the disease in the form of blockades.

To conservative methods of treatment are also various physiotherapeutic procedures: magneto-, laser therapy, shock wave therapy, electroprocedures, etc. A new, but effective method of treatment in vertebrology is shock wave therapy. Due to the action of shock (acoustic) waves of high energy, it allows to work on deep tissues of the back, relieves muscle tension, improves blood circulation at the site of action, breaks down fibrotic (salt) deposits in tissues.

Popular methods of treatment of the spine are back massage, manual therapy, osteopathy, chiropractic, acupuncture.

In the presence of intervertebral hernia, the symptoms of compression of the nerve roots effectively stretching the spine. The stretching can be dry, which is carried out on the traction table and underwater, which combines the action of several factors - the extension of the spine and the relaxing effect of water temperature on spasmodic muscles.

Therapeutic physical training is successfully used for the rehabilitation and prevention of diseases of the spine. It is necessary to begin physical therapy classes after elimination of the exacerbation of the disease. The complex of exercises must be selected depending on the type of disease, its clinical manifestations, the nature of the course of the disease, the presence of concomitant pathology.

A timely and comprehensive approach to the treatment of the spine allows you to cure most diseases of the back in the early stages and stop the course of the disease when it goes into a chronic form.