Baton Rouge 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 Baton Rouge chiropractic patients coming to Medical Spine and Sports Injury and Rehab Centers are quite wise!) 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. Today’s research is showing some promise in the care of disc degeneration with even the potential being floated in the literature of possible disc regeneration. This is exciting to your Baton Rouge 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 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 supported by the disc’s matrix. (1) This gives 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 main component. Aggrecan is the key proteoglycan structure in the extracellular matrix that forms the disc. Aggrecan is quite large, made up 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 vital to maintain the disc’s hydration enough to allow the disc to withstand compressive loading it is made to do. (2) Disc degeneration comes down to the molecules that make up the disc. Medical Spine and Sports Injury and Rehab Centers gets down there, also! 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 first 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) Merging nutrition with distraction spinal manipulation showed promise for potential disc regeneration. (6) Medical Spine and Sports Injury and Rehab Centers includes spinal disc nutrition with spinal distraction manipulation for the optimal clinical outcome.
CONTACT Medical Spine and Sports Injury and Rehab Centers
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.
