What is cervical spondylosis?

Cervical spondylosis refers to the neck (‘cervical’), spine (‘spondyl-’) and an abnormal condition (‘-osis”). In medical use, it applies to a number of age-related, degenerative processes in the upper spine, including disease of the:

• discs

• joints

• ligaments

• bones

Cervical spondylosis is quite common and while it may cause no symptoms, it is a leading cause of neck pain, stiffness, and nerve compression in the upper spine among people age 50 and older.