Wrinkles, frown lines, smile lines, disc
degeneration…natural events with growing older (and, might we add, wiser!).
(Chiropractic Spine Sports And Rehabilitation knows many wise Tonawanda
chiropractic patients!) Discs degenerate. In fact, discs are reported to start
degenerating in the 2nd decade of life. By your 40s, 50s, 60s,
70s, 80s, 90s, it would be less unusual to not have disc
degeneration. Today’s research is presenting
some promise in the care of disc degeneration with even the potential
being floated in the literature of possible
disc regeneration. This is amazing to your Tonawanda
chiropractor and to chiropractic patients everywhere!
THE ROLE OF THE DISC
The disc is the spine’s shock absorber. The
disc opposes 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 propose
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 offers
hope to exploration of possible disc regeneration
and its potential to relieve back pain.
AGING AND DISC DEGENERATION
Disc degeneration is a well-documented source
of low back pain. What makes up a disc? Aggrecan is
the key component. Aggrecan is the main proteoglycan
structure in the extracellular matrix that forms the disc.
Aggrecan is quite large, composed of varied
glycosaminoglycan chains. It can form more aggregates when combined
with hyaluronan. The glycosaminoglycan chains are negatively charged and bind
to water molecules which are necessary to keep the disc hydrated enough to permit the disc to tolerate
compressive loading it is designed to do. (2) Disc degeneration comes down
to the molecules that form the disc. Chiropractic Spine Sports And Rehabilitation gets down
there, too! These authors suggest that aggrecan-based
therapies for disc regeneration are 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 promise
for potential disc regeneration. (6) Chiropractic Spine Sports And Rehabilitation incorporates
spinal disc nutrition with spinal distraction manipulation for the best possible
clinical outcome.
CONTACT Chiropractic Spine Sports And Rehabilitation
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.