Wrinkles, frown lines, smile lines, disc
degeneration…natural events with growing older (and, might we add, wiser!).
(Palmer Chiropractic Center knows many wise Lynchburg
chiropractic patients!) Discs degenerate. In fact, discs are stated to start
degenerating in the second decade of life. By your 40s, 50s, 60s,
70s, 80s, 90s, it would be less unusual to not have disc
degeneration. Research today is showing
some promise in the care of disc degeneration with even the possibility
being put forward in the literature of potential
disc regeneration. This is amazing to your Lynchburg
chiropractor and to chiropractic patients everywhere!
THE ROLE OF THE DISC
The disc acts as the spine’s shock absorber. The
disc resists 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 happens 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 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 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, composed of varied
glycosaminoglycan chains. It can form more aggregates when combined
with hyaluronan. The glycosaminoglycan chains are negatively charged and bind
to water molecules which are necessary to keep the disc hydrated enough to permit the disc to tolerate
compressive loading it is designed to do. (2) Disc degeneration gets down
to the molecules that form the disc. Palmer Chiropractic Center 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 showing itself to be
such a therapy. Chondroitin sulfate’s potential benefit was first
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 promise
for potential disc regeneration. (6) Palmer Chiropractic Center includes
spinal disc nutrition with spinal distraction manipulation for the best possible
clinical outcome.
CONTACT Palmer Chiropractic Center
Listen to this PODCAST
with Dr. Tyler Lomnicki on The
Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he illustrates
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.