Physical rehabilitation for children with osteochondrosis

Abstract

Background. Addressing the rehabilitation needs of children with cervical osteochondrosis often involves the development of specialized techniques and additional exercises for home use. Objective: In this study, we aimed to enhance the musculoskeletal function of high school children with cervical spine osteochondrosis improve their physical development and fitness levels through adaptive physical education in extracurricular settings, and facilitate independent individual home exercises. Methods: A total of 38 schoolchildren, boys and girls aged 14- 16 diagnosed with cervical spine osteochondrosis participated in the pedagogical experiment. The study was conducted from February 25 to May 25, 2023 in multiple secondary schools in Kirov, Russia. Both groups of students followed the standard program three times a week. Children from experimental group B additionally performed sets of physical exercises from the experimental methodology. The study used tests that evaluate the static strength of the abdominal and back muscles, the flexibility and endurance of the cervical spine and the speed and strength abilities of the arm muscles. When analyzing the results, their statistical processing was carried out using the arithmetic mean, square deviation, error and difference. Confidence at p<0.05. Results: According to the results of the study, it was found that children from the control group were able to slightly improve the studied indicators to 10.6%, the increase in indicators from the beginning to the end of the study on all tests turned out to be unreliable (p>0.05). In the experimental group, the indicators of the static strength of the abdominal muscles increased from 54.0 to 71.0, the static strength of the back muscles increased from 53.0 to 82.0, the flexibility of the cervical spine in the right side increased from 6.0 to 10.0. Changes in the indices of flexibility of the cervical spine to the left (from 6.0 to 10.0), speed and strength abilities of the hands (from 42.0 to 64.0), endurance of the cervical spine lying on the back (from 56.0 to 80.0), endurance of the cervical spine lying on the stomach (from 83.0 to 102.0). All these indicators have changed significantly and have a reliable character (p<0.05). Conclusion. If you perform special physical exercises in physical education classes at school and additionally perform some of them at home, then the indicators of schoolchildren diagnosed with cervical osteochondrosis will become significantly higher, namely, the indicators of static strength of the abdominal and back muscles, flexibility and endurance of the cervical spine and speed-strength abilities of the arm muscles will improve.