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Millville 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!). (Wilson Family Chiropractic takes care of many wise Millville chiropractic patients!) Discs degenerate. In fact, discs are stated to begin 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 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 exciting to your Millville 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? Its an elevated proteoglycan aggrecan content. Proteolysis is aggrecan loss that happens with degeneration. Researchers propose that restoration of aggrecan loss in the nucleus of the disc is probable 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 main proteoglycan structure in the extracellular matrix that makes up the disc. Aggrecan is substantial, composed of many 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 maintain the disc’s hydration enough to allow the disc to withstand compressive loading it is designed to do. (2) Disc degeneration comes down to the molecules that form the disc. Wilson Family Chiropractic gets down there, also! These authors posit 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 indicated promise for potential disc regeneration. (6) Wilson Family Chiropractic includes spinal disc nutrition with spinal distraction manipulation for the optimal clinical outcome.

CONTACT Wilson Family Chiropractic

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 integration of gentle distraction manipulation and nutrition for this patient’s relief and management of disc herniation pain.

Schedule your Millville chiropractic appointment soon. We do not fret over aging’s changes. We encourage you to embrace them and the wisdom they produce and embrace a Millville chiropractic treatment plan to manage them.
 
Wilson Family Chiropractic sets individual treatment plans for patients with disc degeneration, a result of normal aging process, that eases back pain and holds hope for regeneration.  
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"This information and website content is not intended to diagnose, guarantee results, or recommend specific treatment or activity. It is designed to educate and inform only. Please consult your physician for a thorough examination leading to a diagnosis and well-planned treatment strategy. See more details on the DISCLAIMER page. Content is reviewed by Dr. James M. Cox I."