Long term desk sitting, dependence on mobile phones, poor sitting posture... Cervical spondylosis is now prevalent in the workplace and showing a trend towards younger people. Cervical spondylosis is not only a pain problem, but can also cause dizziness, headache, arm soreness, numbness, weakness, and even blurred vision, sleep disorders, and decreased mental state, seriously affecting the quality of life. How to self-test cervical spondylosis? What are the prevention and control methods? Yan Zhiyuan, director and deputy chief physician of the Orthopedics Department (Rehabilitation Department) at Chengdu Bayi Orthopedic Hospital, introduced that when cervical spondylosis occurs, the body will send out a series of "distress signals", some of which are relatively hidden and easy to ignore. There are several self testing methods to determine whether one has cervical spondylosis. One is to determine whether there is stiffness and pain in the neck. When I wake up in the morning, I feel that my neck is not flexible and stiff, and even slight movement can be accompanied by pain. The second is to determine whether there is numbness and weakness in the upper limbs. If cervical spondylosis compresses the nerve roots, it can cause symptoms such as radiating pain and numbness in the upper limbs, radiating from the neck along the shoulders, arms, and fingers, making you feel sore, numb, and weak in your arms, and unstable when holding things. The third is to determine whether there are symptoms of dizziness and headache. Dizziness occurs when one suddenly turns their head, raises their head, or lowers their head, feeling dizzy and unable to stand steadily. In severe cases, they may fall. Headaches often occur in the occipital, parietal, or temporal regions, with various forms such as throbbing pain, bloating pain, and stabbing pain. In addition, cervical spine problems may also affect our vision, sleep, and mental state, and even trigger emotional problems such as anxiety, depression, and irritability. Yan Zhiyuan recommended a massage method to relieve cervical discomfort: the patient sits upright with the operator behind them. Firstly, the operator holds the patient's neck with the tiger mouth of their hand, applies force to the center with their fingertips, and rubs for about 30 seconds. Next, place the thumbs of both hands on the patient's neck, and use the fingertips of the thumbs to press down along the muscles on both sides of the neck, doing Tai Chi circular massage 10 to 15 times. Then, the operator places both hands on the patient's shoulders and slowly lifts the shoulder muscles upwards, repeating this action 5 to 10 times. Finally, the operator supports their palms with both hands, bends their little and ring fingers, and uses the "hammering method" to strike the patient's shoulder and neck about 15 times with their index and middle fingers. It should be noted that the strength during operation should be comfortable for the patient. Good living habits are also very important. Maintain correct sitting, standing, and sleeping positions, avoid prolonged periods of sitting with your head down, and pay attention to keeping your neck warm. It is recommended to take a 10 to 15 minute break every 1 to 2 hours of work or study to relax the muscles in the neck and shoulders. You can get up and pour a glass of water, go to the bathroom, or do some simple stretching exercises, such as breast expansion exercises, bending exercises, etc. (New Society)