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| Siti Ainun Ma'rufa, S.Ft., Ftr., M.Sc (Photo : Special) |
A pinched nerve is a pressure on the nerve by surrounding tissues. For example by muscles, bones or ligaments. It is very often found in the innervation of the spine. The pain can be felt in the neck, arms, waist, legs, and several other places.
According to a lecturer in Physiotherapy at the University of Muhammadiyah Malang (UMM), Siti Ainun Ma'rufa, S.Ft., Ftr., M.Sc., the cause of pinched nerves is due to age which makes the flexibility of the spine decrease. As you get older, the spinal cord gradually thin out, which can cause friction between the bones and pinch the nerves.
"Other triggers are trauma such as accidents, sports injuries, and falls. In addition, obesity, improper posture during activities and continuous movement are also risk factors for pinched nerves," she added.
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Ainun, as she is called, also said that the usual symptoms are radiating pain. However, it is common to experience tingling, burning, numbness, and muscle weakness in the part of the body that has a pinched nerve.
Therefore, what is the best treatment that we can do if we experience it? Ainun explained that there are physiotherapy exercises that can be done for people with pinched joints. This exercise can relieve pain. By doing stretching as well as strengthening. "The movements include knee to chest stretching, glutes bridging, pelvic tilting, leg raise and others. Moreover, cold and warm compresses can also be applied to the area of pain," she added.
In some situations, patients with pinched nerves have to undergo a series of supporting examinations first to get a diagnosis. Pharmacological therapy is also common to give the patient to reduce pain symptoms.
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"However, in more severe conditions, it is found that the nerve is clamped due to herniated nucleus pulposus or spondylolisthesis which causes the spine shifting from its normal position. Therefore, surgical treatment will be given in this case," she adds.
Finally, Ainun emphasized that pinched nerve conditions can reoccur. Thus, maintaining a healthy lifestyle is an absolute must. "It is also highly recommended for the patient to get used to sitting and standing with good posture, to have a healthy lifestyle to maintain ideal body weight, and to exercise regularly," she said. (*/Put)
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