Wrinkles, frown lines, smile lines, disc
degeneration…natural events with growing older (and, might we add, wiser!).
(Manchester Chiropractic & Sports Injuries knows many wise Manchester
chiropractic patients!) 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 common to not have disc
degeneration. Research today is presenting
some promise in the care of disc degeneration with even the potential
being proposed in the literature of possible
disc regeneration. This is amazing to your Manchester
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? It has a high
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 offers
hope to exploration of possible 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 key component. Aggrecan is the key proteoglycan
structure in the extracellular matrix that forms the disc.
Aggrecan is substantial, 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 allow the disc to tolerate
compressive loading it is made to do. (2) Disc degeneration comes down
to the molecules that form the disc. Manchester Chiropractic & Sports Injuries 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 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 showed ability
for potential disc regeneration. (6) Manchester Chiropractic & Sports Injuries incorporates
spinal disc nutrition with spinal distraction manipulation for the optimal
clinical outcome.
CONTACT Manchester Chiropractic & Sports Injuries
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.