Wrinkles, frown lines, smile lines, disc
degeneration…natural events with growing older (and, might we add, wiser!).
(Many West Palm Beach chiropractic patients coming
to Chiropractic Care are very wise!) 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. Research today is showing
some promise in the care of disc degeneration with even the possibility
being floated in the literature of potential
disc regeneration. This is amazing to your West Palm 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? It has 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 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-acknowledged source
of low back pain. What makes up a disc? Aggrecan is
the main component. Aggrecan is the main proteoglycan
structure in the extracellular matrix that makes up the disc.
Aggrecan is substantial, made up of many
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 maintain the disc’s
hydration enough to permit the disc to withstand
compressive loading it is made to do. (2) Disc degeneration gets down
to the molecules that form the disc. Chiropractic Care gets down
there, also! 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 initially
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) Combining nutrition with
distraction spinal manipulation indicated promise
for potential disc regeneration. (6) Chiropractic Care includes
spinal disc nutrition with spinal distraction manipulation for the best possible
clinical outcome.
CONTACT Chiropractic Care
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 incorporation
of gentle distraction manipulation and nutrition for this patient’s relief and
management of disc herniation pain.