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.