Fernandina Beach Chiropractic Care of an Aging Spine: Nutrition & Manipulation
Wrinkles, frown lines, smile lines, disc degeneration…natural events with growing older (and, might we add, wiser!). (Many Fernandina Beach chiropractic patients coming to Amelia Chiropractic Clinic are very wise!) Discs degenerate. In fact, discs are stated to begin degenerating in the 2nd decade of life. By your 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, it would be less common to not have disc degeneration. Research today is showing some promise in the care of disc degeneration with even the potential being proposed in the literature of possible disc regeneration. This is amazing to your Fernandina Beach chiropractor and to chiropractic patients everywhere!
THE ROLE OF THE DISC
The disc is the spine’s shock absorber. The disc resists the compressive loads put on the spine during movement. How is it able to do this? Its a high proteoglycan aggrecan content. Proteolysis is aggrecan loss that happens with degeneration. Researchers suggest that restoration of aggrecan loss in the nucleus of the disc is probable via cells that can synthesize aggrecan and be supported by the disc’s matrix. (1) This gives hope to exploration of possible disc regeneration and its potential to ease back pain.
AGING AND DISC DEGENERATION
Disc degeneration is a well-documented cause of low back pain. What is the disc made of? Aggrecan is the main component. Aggrecan is the key proteoglycan structure in the extracellular matrix that makes up the disc. Aggrecan is substantial, made up of varied glycosaminoglycan chains. It can create more aggregates when joined with hyaluronan. The glycosaminoglycan chains are negatively charged and bind to water molecules which are necessary to maintain the disc’s hydration enough to allow the disc to tolerate compressive loading it is designed to do. (2) Disc degeneration gets down to the molecules that make up the disc. Amelia Chiropractic Clinic gets down there, also! These authors suggest that aggrecan-based therapies for disc regeneration may well be possible.
THERAPY FOR POTENTIAL DISC REGENERATION
Chondroitin sulfate is proving to be such a therapy. Chondroitin sulfate’s potential benefit was first discussed as far back as 1966 by Cole, Ghosh and Taylor. Chondroitin sulfate is described as being the source of glycosaminoglycan synthesis in the disc. (3,4,5) Merging nutrition with distraction spinal manipulation indicated ability for potential disc regeneration. (6) Amelia Chiropractic Clinic incorporates spinal disc nutrition with spinal distraction manipulation for the optimal clinical outcome.
CONTACT Amelia Chiropractic Clinic
Listen to this PODCAST with Dr. Tyler Lomnicki on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he illustrates The Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management incorporation of gentle distraction manipulation and nutrition for this patient’s relief and management of disc herniation pain.
