Carrolltown 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!). (Gormish Chiropractic & Rehabilitation takes care of many wise Carrolltown chiropractic patients!) Discs degenerate. As a matter of fact, discs are stated to begin degenerating in the second decade of life. By your 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, it would be less unusual to not have disc degeneration. Research today is presenting some promise in the care of disc degeneration with even the potential being floated in the literature of potential disc regeneration. This is amazing to your Carrolltown chiropractor and to chiropractic patients everywhere!
THE ROLE OF THE DISC
The disc acts as 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 an elevated 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 possible via cells that can synthesize aggrecan and be borne by the disc’s matrix. (1) This offers hope to exploration of conceivable disc regeneration and its potential to relieve back pain.
AGING AND DISC DEGENERATION
Disc degeneration is a well-acknowledged cause 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, made up 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 vital to keep the disc hydrated enough to allow the disc to tolerate compressive loading it is made to do. (2) Disc degeneration gets down to the molecules that make up the disc. Gormish Chiropractic & Rehabilitation 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 showing itself to be such a therapy. Chondroitin sulfate’s potential benefit was initially 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 showed promise for potential disc regeneration. (6) Gormish Chiropractic & Rehabilitation incorporates spinal disc nutrition with spinal distraction manipulation for the best possible clinical outcome.
CONTACT Gormish Chiropractic & 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.
