Montreal 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 Montreal chiropractic patients coming to Dr. Hoang's Chiropractic Clinic are very wise!) Discs degenerate. In fact, discs are reported to start degenerating in the 2nd decade of life. By your 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, it would be less common to not see disc degeneration. Today’s research is showing 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 Montreal 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 an elevated proteoglycan aggrecan content. Proteolysis is aggrecan loss that happens with degeneration. Researchers suggest 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 gives 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 makes up a disc? Aggrecan is the main 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 create 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 permit the disc to tolerate compressive loading it is designed to do. (2) Disc degeneration gets down to the molecules that make up the disc. Dr. Hoang's Chiropractic Clinic 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 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 explained as being the source of glycosaminoglycan synthesis in the disc. (3,4,5) Combining nutrition with distraction spinal manipulation showed ability for potential disc regeneration. (6) Dr. Hoang's Chiropractic Clinic includes spinal disc nutrition with spinal distraction manipulation for the best possible clinical outcome.
CONTACT Dr. Hoang's Chiropractic Clinic
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.
