Concord, NC 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!). (Pure Chiropractic knows many wise Concord, NC chiropractic patients!) Discs degenerate. As a matter of fact, discs are reported to begin degenerating in the second decade of life. By your 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, it would be less unusual to not see disc degeneration. Today’s research is showing some promise in the care of disc degeneration with even the possibility being floated in the literature of possible disc regeneration. This is amazing to your Concord, NC 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 occurs with degeneration. Researchers suggest that restoration of aggrecan loss in the nucleus of the disc is possible via cells that can synthesize aggrecan and be borne 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 is the disc made of? Aggrecan is the main component. Aggrecan is the main proteoglycan structure in the extracellular matrix that forms the disc. Aggrecan is substantial, composed of varied glycosaminoglycan chains. It can create 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 allow the disc to tolerate compressive loading it is designed to do. (2) Disc degeneration gets down to the molecules that form the disc. Pure Chiropractic gets down there, too! These authors posit 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 clear back in 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 showed promise for potential disc regeneration. (6) Pure Chiropractic includes spinal disc nutrition with spinal distraction manipulation for the best possible clinical outcome.
CONTACT Pure Chiropractic
Listen to this PODCAST with Dr. Tyler Lomnicki on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he describes The Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management integration of gentle distraction manipulation and nutrition for this patient’s relief and management of disc herniation pain.
