RU2846490C1 - Method for atlanto-occipital joint mobility restoration - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: medical science.

SUBSTANCE: invention refers to medicine and can be used for atlantooccipital joint mobility recovery. Method includes working out suboccipital muscles, including, on one hand, working out obliquus capitis superior muscle, then capitis posterior major muscle, then capitis posterior minor muscle. On the other side, only the capitis posterior major muscle is worked. Further, to fix the achieved result, traction therapy is carried out for 10 days as follows: 5-day cervical traction, 5-day lumbar traction.

EFFECT: more effective spinal correction in the anatomically correct position of the atlas.

1 cl, 1 dwg, 1 tbl

Description

The invention relates to the field of medicine, primarily to acupressure, reflexology and can be used to restore impaired motor functions, improve blood circulation and metabolic processes.

The atlanto-occipital joint is the joint between the top cervical vertebra (atlas) and the base of the skull (occiput). Proper functioning of this joint is important for the harmonious functioning of the cervical spine, head movement, and posture. In some cases, however, the atlanto-occipital joint can become misaligned, leading to various health problems.

Causes of displacement of the atlanto-occipital joint:

- neck trauma: birth trauma, bruises, blows, sprains and other injuries;

- constant tension in the neck muscles: increased use of computers, poor posture, increased emotional stress;

- incorrect position of the head and neck, for example, when staying in the wrong position for a long time, when carrying a heavy backpack on one shoulder or sitting in front of the TV with your head low.

The patent literature contains information on several methods of treating individual manifestations or consequences.

A method for treating osteochondrosis is known (RU 2005456), which is carried out as follows. The patient's spine is palpated in a sitting or standing position, the presence of spasm (hypertonicity) in the paravertebral muscles, local defense (LD) is detected. Then, depending on the location of the LD detected during palpation, the head is fixed (LD is installed in the cervical spine) or a segment of the spine (in other parts of the spine) proximally from the muscle with LD. Then, simultaneously, push-like tractions are carried out in the cranial direction and pressure in the sagittal plane on LD. The disadvantage of the known method is that the method provides for intense one-time push-like tractions of the body, which can lead to complications, damage to the muscular-ligamentous apparatus, as well as to displacement of the vertebrae.

A method for treating cervical osteochondrosis is known, which includes identifying hypertonicity of the neck muscles with subsequent elimination by applying pressure to the muscles in the sagittal plane, fixing the head and distracting the ligamentous-muscular apparatus of the neck (RU 2243758). The method is carried out as follows. The patient's head is grasped from behind with one hand, turned 10-15° to the side and fixed until the superficial and middle muscles of the neck relax, pressure is applied with the thumb in the sagittal plane to the occipitovertebral muscles, as well as to the muscles located between the transverse processes of C1-C7, until the patient relaxes. After which a similar effect is applied to similar muscles on the other side. Next, the patient's head is fixed with one hand by the mammillary processes, and with the other by the shoulders, and traction is applied to the muscular-ligamentous apparatus of the neck by forcibly turning in different directions and bending the head. After that, the patient's shoulders are fixed one by one while the head is flexed one by one in the frontal plane until an angle of 30° is formed with the shoulder blade. Then, with the palm of the hand, the head is fixed with one hand by the mastoid processes and with the other hand by the lower jaw, with the forearm of the hand resting on the patient's back to create a lever of action and forced turns of the head towards the shoulder blades are performed, with the angle of rotation at the beginning of the exercises being 10-15°, then it is increased, reaching 90° during the cycle of exercises.

The disadvantage of the proposed method is that it requires multiple exposures and long-term complex therapy to improve the condition of patients.

The closest method is the Method for treating craniovertebral dysfunction (RU Patent No. 2725551, published 02-07-2020).

A method for treating craniovertebral dysfunction, including diagnostics of the state of hypertonicity of the neck muscles with subsequent elimination thereof by pressure on the muscles in the sagittal plane perpendicular to the muscles, characterized in that a comprehensive diagnostics of craniovertebral dysfunction is performed in the following sequence: assessing the symmetry of the location of the transverse processes of the atlas relative to the mammillary processes of the occipital bone, assessing changes in the position of the transverse processes of the atlas relative to the mammillary processes of the occipital bone during head movements, assessing the simultaneity, smoothness, sufficiency of volume and the absence of additional movements in neighboring regions, determining sensitivity, the presence of muscle spasm, painful seals, active and latent trigger points of the suboccipital muscles, determining the range of motion when turning the head in different directions, determining back muscle tension, determining the volume and symmetry of movement in the muscles of the lower extremities and the lumbosacral spine, assessing the uniformity of the length of the lower extremities; After diagnostic procedures, spasm of the suboccipital muscles is eliminated by means of reflex relaxation, which is carried out by point action on the trigger zones of the paired suboccipital muscles in the following sequence: right rectus capitis posterior minor, left rectus capitis posterior minor, right rectus capitis posterior major, left rectus capitis posterior major, right inferior oblique capitis, left inferior oblique capitis, right superior oblique capitis, left superior oblique capitis; point action on the trigger zones of each of the suboccipital muscles is carried out with increasing intensity until reflex relaxation of the muscle, after which, without changing the point and intensity of action, the pressure exposure is maintained for 3 seconds, the duration of action on each of the suboccipital muscles is up to 1 min; the action is carried out using a massager equipped with a rounded working end with a semicircle radius of 4 mm; After the treatment procedure, all diagnostic stages are repeated.

The disadvantage of this method is that it does not have sufficient impact on the muscles of the cervical spine, which carries the risk of repeated spasms of the suboccipital muscles.

The proposed invention is aimed at achieving a health-improving and restorative program for the spine and the entire body by correcting the atlanto-occipital joint through manual and hardware intervention.

The disadvantage of known solutions in the field of atlanto-occipital joint correction is the increased painfulness of the procedure or its insufficient effectiveness. It is often possible to observe repeated displacement of the atlanto-occipital joint after its correction, associated primarily with a spasm of the muscles of the atlanto-occipital zone, which is a consequence of insufficient development of the suboccipital and other muscles during the correction procedure.

The author set himself the task of developing the least painful method of influencing the atlanto-occipital joint for its correction, eliminating repeated spasms of the muscles of the atlanto-occipital zone, which could lead to subsequent displacement of such a joint.

The task is solved by asymmetrically working out the suboccipital muscles, including, on the one hand, working out the superior oblique muscle of the head, then the posterior large muscle of the head, then the posterior small muscle of the head, and on the other hand, working out only the posterior large muscle of the head, which is fundamentally important for the correct weakening of the tension of the atlanto-occipital joint and eliminating the displacement. Next, to consolidate the achieved result, traction therapy is carried out, namely: the patient is provided with traction stretching of the cervical spine, to exclude the possibility of returning the muscles to primary spasm. Traction therapy is repeated for 10 days as follows: 5 days of traction stretching of the cervical spine, 5 days of traction stretching of the lumbar spine. Thus, as a result of the implementation of the health-improving and restorative for the spine and the whole body, the spine is corrected to the anatomically correct position of the Atlas.

Fig. 1 shows the technical map of actions. 1 - Superior oblique muscle of the head, 2 - Large posterior rectus capitis muscle, 3 - Small posterior rectus capitis muscle.

The proposed method is carried out in the following sequence:

At the first stage, the spine and head rotation are diagnosed, whether the neck movement is blocked is determined, and palpation of the blocked muscles is performed. Next, the pelvic tilt on the legs and the general asymmetry of the musculoskeletal segment of the spine are analyzed. Any of the symptoms mentioned is an indicator of a health and recovery program.

At the second stage, the specialist massages the neck area using any known techniques to relieve tension in the neck muscles and improve blood circulation. The specialist can also gently massage the area of the atlanto-occipital joint itself, helping to return it to the correct position.

At the third stage, using a massage device, for example, "Atlas Professional", the atlanto-occipital muscles are worked out according to the technical map of actions, as follows. The specialist holds the massage device in his right hand, with the left hand the patient's head is grasped and fixed on the specialist's chest. The device's nozzle acts on the suboccipital muscles as follows:

On the left side, point 1 is worked on by pressing for 3-5 seconds three times. Then the specialist repeats the same actions with point 2, and then point 3 (Fig. 1, a). Each of the points is worked on sequentially. The right side is worked on only at point 2 (Fig. 1, b), and point 2 is pressed for 3-5 seconds and the effect is repeated 4 times.

Next, the left side is worked on again, with points 1 and 3 not being affected, and point 2 is massaged for 3-5 seconds and repeated 3 times. The right side is again worked on only point 2, the effect lasts for 3-5 seconds, 3 repetitions.

Below is a more detailed table describing the sequence and points of influence:

STAGE 1 - Working on the left side:
point 1 - press 3-5 seconds 3 times
point 2 - press for 3-5 seconds 3 times
point 3 - press for 3-5 seconds 3 times
the stage is repeated 3 times STAGE 2 - Working on the right side:
point 1 and 3 - do not touch
point 2 - press for 3-5 seconds
4 times each STAGE 3 - Working on the left side:
point 1 and 3 - do not touch
point 2 - press for 3-5 seconds 3 times STAGE 4 - Working on the right side:
point 1 and 3 - do not touch
point 2 - press for 3-5 seconds 3 times

Possible reactions after massage are swelling and soreness in the areas of impact. After working on the points on the neck with the help of "Atlas Professional", 4-5 days should pass for the inflammation and soreness to go away.

The final stage involves stretching the neck muscles and the entire spine. Stretching and exercises can help relax the neck muscles and relieve excess tension. Well-known techniques are used to stretch the neck, such as sharp semicircular turns of the neck to the right and left 5 times.

To stretch the muscles of the spine, you can use special devices that can help relax the muscles of the spine and create conditions for its self-restoration. The most famous devices at the moment are ORMED, Urgana or BEM.

Using the ORMED, Urgana or BEM devices, decompression, vibration, and thermal roller traction of the spine is performed, with traction of the cervicothoracic region performed for 5 days and the thoracolumbar region for 5 days.

The method claimed in the invention cannot be used in the following cases:

Diseases, mental disorders, severe diseases of the heart, brain and lungs.

In case of fractures, bleeding or tendency to bleeding, rupture of muscles, tendons or ligaments, purulent arthritis, damage to the skin, ulcers, abscesses, furuncles.

In case of developmental defects or degenerative narrowing of the spinal canal and in case of distinct narrowing of the intervertebral openings.

During pregnancy, menstruation, and postpartum bleeding.

In cases of senile infirmity, fatigue, a feeling of severe hunger, and also earlier than 30 minutes after a large meal or consumption of alcoholic beverages.

Claims (6)

A method for restoring the mobility of the atlanto-occipital joint, characterized by the fact that at the first stage, the spine and head rotation are examined, it is determined whether the neck movement is blocked, palpation is carried out to determine the blocked muscles, then an analysis of the pelvic tilt on the legs and the general asymmetry of the spine is carried out, if one or more of the above symptoms are detected, a second stage is carried out, at which the specialist massages the neck area and the atlanto-occipital joint itself, then at the third stage, using a massage device, the suboccipital muscles are worked out in the following sequence: 1) on the left side: press for 3-5 seconds 3 times on the superior oblique muscle of the head, then press for 3-5 seconds 3 times on the posterior rectus capitis major muscle, then press for 3-5 seconds 3 times on the posterior rectus capitis minor muscle; 2) on the right side: press for 3-5 seconds 4 times on the posterior large rectus capitis muscle; 3) on the left side: press for 3-5 seconds 3 times on the posterior large rectus capitis muscle; 4) on the right side: press for 3-5 seconds 3 times on the posterior large rectus capitis muscle; then traction therapy is carried out for 10 days, with traction of the cervical spine being carried out for 5 days, and traction of the thoracic and lumbar spine being carried out for 5 days.