Minster 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!). (Minster Chiropractic Center knows many wise Minster chiropractic patients!) Discs degenerate. As a matter of fact, discs are reported to begin degenerating in the 2nd decade of life. By your 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, it would be less common to not have disc degeneration. Today’s research 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 Minster 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 the loss of aggrecan 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 gives hope to exploration of possible disc regeneration and its potential to ease back pain.

AGING AND DISC DEGENERATION

Disc degeneration is a well-documented cause of low back pain. What is the disc made of? Aggrecan is the key component. Aggrecan is the key proteoglycan structure in the extracellular matrix that makes up 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 vital to keep the disc hydrated enough to permit the disc to tolerate compressive loading it is designed to do. (2) Disc degeneration gets down to the molecules that form the disc. Minster Chiropractic Center gets down there, also! These authors posit 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 explained as being the source of glycosaminoglycan synthesis in the disc. (3,4,5) Combining nutrition with distraction spinal manipulation showed promise for potential disc regeneration. (6) Minster Chiropractic Center includes spinal disc nutrition with spinal distraction manipulation for the best possible clinical outcome.

CONTACT Minster Chiropractic Center

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 integration of gentle distraction manipulation and nutrition for this patient’s relief and management of disc herniation pain.

Schedule your Minster chiropractic appointment today. We don’t fret over the signs of aging. We encourage you to embrace them and the wisdom they produce and embrace a Minster chiropractic treatment plan to deal with them.
 
Minster Chiropractic Center sets individual treatment plans for patients with disc degeneration, a consequence of normal aging process, that eases back pain and holds hope for regeneration.  
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"This information and website content is not intended to diagnose, guarantee results, or recommend specific treatment or activity. It is designed to educate and inform only. Please consult your physician for a thorough examination leading to a diagnosis and well-planned treatment strategy. See more details on the DISCLAIMER page. Content is reviewed by Dr. James M. Cox I."