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Dolor cervical - Overview

Nombres alternativos

Dolor de cuello; Rigidez en el cuello o cervical

Definición:

Es una molestia en cualquiera de las estructuras del cuello, las cuales incluyen músculos y nervios, al igual que vértebras de la columna y los discos amortiguadores entre ellas.

Ver también:

Consideraciones:

Cuando su cuello presenta dolor, es posible que usted tenga dificultad para moverlo, especialmente hacia un lado, lo cual es descrito por muchas personas como tener cuello rígido.

Si el dolor de cuello compromete los nervios (por ejemplo, espasmos musculares significativos que comprimen un nervio o un disco desplazado que presiona un nervio), se puede sentir entumecimiento, hormigueo o debilidad en el brazo, la mano o en otra parte.

Causas:

Una causa común del dolor cervical es la tensión o distensión muscular y, por lo general, las actividades diarias son las responsables. Tales actividades son, entre otras: encorvarse sobre un escritorio durante horas, tener una mala postura para ver televisión o leer, colocar el monitor de la computadora demasiado alto o demasiado bajo, dormir en una posición incómoda o torcer y girar el cuello con sacudones cuando se hace ejercicio.

Las caídas o accidentes traumáticos pueden causar lesiones cervicales graves, como fracturas de las vértebras, latigazo cervical, lesión de los vasos sanguíneos e incluso parálisis.

Otras causas abarcan:

  • Reviewed last on: 6/4/2011
  • David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc., and C. Benjamin Ma, MD, Assistant Professor, Chief, Sports Medicine and Shoulder Service, UCSF Department of Orthopaedic Surgery.

Referencias

Gross A, Miller J, D'Sylva J, et al. Manipulation or mobilisation for neck pain. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2010 Jan 20;(1):CD004249.

Young IA, Michener LA, Cleland JA, Aguilera AJ, Snyder AR. Manual therapy, exercise, and traction for patients with cervical radiculopathy: a randomized clinical trial. Phys Ther. 2009 Jul;89(7):632-42. Epub 2009 May 21. Erratum in: Phys Ther. 2010 May;90(5):825. Phys Ther. 2009 Nov;89(11):1254-5.

Devereaux MW. Neck pain. Med Clin North Am. 2009;93:273-284.

Graham N, Gross A, Goldsmith CH, Klaber Moffett J, Haines T, Burnie SJ, et al. Mechanical traction for neck pain with or without radiculopathy. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2008;(3):CD006408.

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