McHenry 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 McHenry chiropractic patients coming to OrthoIllinois Chiropractic are quite wise!) Discs degenerate. In 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. Today’s research 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 McHenry chiropractor and to chiropractic patients everywhere!
THE ROLE OF THE DISC
The disc acts as the spine’s shock absorber. The disc opposes 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 the loss of aggrecan 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 conceivable disc regeneration and its potential to relieve back pain.
AGING AND DISC DEGENERATION
Disc degeneration is a well-acknowledged source of low back pain. What is the disc made of? Aggrecan is the key component. Aggrecan is the main 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 joined 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 tolerate compressive loading it is made to do. (2) Disc degeneration gets down to the molecules that form the disc. OrthoIllinois Chiropractic gets down there, too! These authors posit that aggrecan-based therapies for disc regeneration are 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 ability for potential disc regeneration. (6) OrthoIllinois Chiropractic incorporates spinal disc nutrition with spinal distraction manipulation for the best possible clinical outcome.
CONTACT OrthoIllinois Chiropractic
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.
