Wrinkles, frown lines, smile lines, disc
degeneration…natural events with growing older (and, might we add, wiser!).
(Many Fort Wayne chiropractic patients coming
to Cox Chiropractic Medicine Inc are very wise!) Discs degenerate. As a
matter of fact, discs are stated to start
degenerating in the 2nd 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 potential
being proposed in the literature of potential
disc regeneration. This is exciting to your Fort Wayne
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? Its an elevated
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 borne 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 cause
of low back pain. What makes up a disc? 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 form 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 comes down
to the molecules that form the disc. Cox Chiropractic Medicine Inc 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 first
discussed clear back in 1966 by Cole, Ghosh and Taylor. Chondroitin
sulfate is explained 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) Cox Chiropractic Medicine Inc incorporates
spinal disc nutrition with spinal distraction manipulation for the best possible
clinical outcome.
CONTACT Cox Chiropractic Medicine Inc
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.