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New Roads 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!). (New Roads Chiropractic Center takes care of many wise New Roads chiropractic patients!) Discs degenerate. As a matter of 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 unusual 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 exciting to your New Roads 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 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 probable via cells that can synthesize aggrecan and be borne by the disc’s matrix. (1) This offers hope to exploration of conceivable disc regeneration and its potential to relieve back pain.

AGING AND DISC DEGENERATION

Disc degeneration is a well-documented source of low back pain. What is the disc made of? 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 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 tolerate compressive loading it is made to do. (2) Disc degeneration comes down to the molecules that make up the disc. New Roads Chiropractic Center gets down there, too! These authors posit 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 first discussed clear back in 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) New Roads Chiropractic Center includes spinal disc nutrition with spinal distraction manipulation for the best possible clinical outcome.

CONTACT New Roads 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.

Schedule your New Roads chiropractic appointment today. We don’t fret over the signs of aging. We hope you embrace them and the wisdom they bring and embrace a New Roads chiropractic treatment plan to manage them.
 
New Roads Chiropractic Center 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."