Parents often say a common phrase to little kids: “Don’t turn your head!” I urge the opposite: definitely turn your head. At any age. Only in this way can you avoid a dangerous condition — cervical osteochondrosis.

The neck is designed by nature not only to hold the head and turn it in different directions, which, by the way, becomes quite difficult with age for people who are untrained and do not take care of their health. The spinal cord, arteries supplying the brain, nerve roots, and trunks that provide nerve connections to the arms, heart, and lungs all pass through the neck area.

Constant static load often leads to the development of lower cervical osteochondrosis. So how can you prevent this disease and strengthen the group of muscles that support the intervertebral discs?

Of course, by doing special physical exercises:

– Press your forehead against your palm and tense the neck muscles. Perform the exercise 3 times for 7 seconds each. Then press the back of your head (occiput) against your palm also 3 times for 7 seconds.
– While tensing the neck muscles, press your left temple against your left palm (3 times for 7 seconds), then press your right temple against your right palm (3 times for 7 seconds).
– Tilt your head slightly backward. Overcoming the resistance of the tense neck muscles, press your chin against the jugular notch. Perform the exercise at least 5 times.
– Keep your head and shoulders straight. Slowly turn your head as far as possible to the right (5 times). Do the same number of turns to the left.
– Lower your chin to your neck. Turn your head 5 times to the right, then 5 times to the left.
– Tilt your head backward. Try to touch your right ear to your right shoulder (5 times). Repeat the movement trying to touch your left ear to your left shoulder (5 times).

These exercises are recommended to be included in your morning hygiene gymnastics and performed throughout the workday. They can be done sitting or standing. Doing these exercises regularly is a reliable prevention of cervical osteochondrosis. However, circular rotational movements of the head should never be performed, as this can lead to injury.