Cervical osteoarthritis is a chronic osteoarticular condition that is very common after the age of 40-50 years in people of both sexes and from all parts of the world, due to the natural aging of intervertebral cartilage and deterioration of the joint structures of the early section of the spine (C 1-C 7 vertebrae), and exacerbated by a number of genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors.
At greatest risk of developing cervical arthrosis are: genetically predisposed people; women; those who have suffered neck trauma during automobile accidents or professional/sports activity (especially “whiplash”); and those who have held jobs for many years that have imposed excessive stress on the cervical spine area, in terms of both the strain associated with movement (porters, bricklayers, etc.) and inadequate postures maintained for many hours a day (office work, tailors, ironers, etc.).
