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Burlington and Hamilton 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!). (Many Burlington and Hamilton chiropractic patients visiting Spinal Care Clinic are very wise!) Discs degenerate. In 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 see disc degeneration. Research today is showing some promise in the care of disc degeneration with even the possibility being proposed in the literature of possible disc regeneration. This is exciting to your Burlington and Hamilton chiropractor and to chiropractic patients everywhere!

THE ROLE OF THE DISC

The disc is the spine’s shock absorber. The disc opposes 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 probable via cells that can synthesize aggrecan and be supported by the disc’s matrix. (1) This gives hope to exploration of probable 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 key proteoglycan structure in the extracellular matrix that makes up 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 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 form the disc. Spinal Care Clinic 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 proving to be such a therapy. Chondroitin sulfate’s potential benefit was first 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) Merging nutrition with distraction spinal manipulation indicated promise for potential disc regeneration. (6) Spinal Care Clinic incorporates spinal disc nutrition with spinal distraction manipulation for the best possible clinical outcome.

CONTACT Spinal Care Clinic

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.

Schedule your Burlington and Hamilton chiropractic appointment soon. We do not fret over aging’s changes. We hope you embrace them and the wisdom they produce and embrace a Burlington and Hamilton chiropractic treatment plan to manage them.
 
Spinal Care Clinic 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."