Wrinkles, frown lines, smile lines, disc
degeneration…natural events with growing older (and, might we add, wiser!).
(Many Oxford chiropractic patients coming
to Satterwhite Chiropractic are quite wise!) Discs degenerate. As a
matter of fact, discs are reported 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 showing
some promise in the care of disc degeneration with even the potential
being put forward in the literature of potential
disc regeneration. This is amazing to your Oxford
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 a high
proteoglycan aggrecan content. Proteolysis is the loss of aggrecan
that occurs with degeneration. Researchers propose
that restoration of aggrecan loss in the nucleus of the disc is possible
via cells that can synthesize aggrecan and be supported by the
disc’s matrix. (1) This offers
hope to exploration of probable disc regeneration
and its potential to ease back pain.
AGING AND DISC DEGENERATION
Disc degeneration is a well-documented source
of low back pain. What makes up a disc? Aggrecan is
the key component. Aggrecan is the main proteoglycan
structure in the extracellular matrix that forms the disc.
Aggrecan is quite large, made up of many
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 allow the disc to tolerate
compressive loading it is made to do. (2) Disc degeneration gets down
to the molecules that make up the disc. Satterwhite Chiropractic gets down
there, too! These authors suggest 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 clear back in 1966 by Cole, Ghosh and Taylor. Chondroitin
sulfate is described 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) Satterwhite Chiropractic includes
spinal disc nutrition with spinal distraction manipulation for the optimal
clinical outcome.
CONTACT Satterwhite 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.