Possible Regeneration for Sitka Disc Degeneration
The future: disc re-generation! It’s an exciting possibility being today. Turning disc degeneration into disc regeneration holds hope for back pain sufferers all around. What is the most recent proposed process? Distraction. Just what your Sitka chiropractor at Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka is well-trained to do! Sitka chiropractic spinal manipulation is beneficial. For Sitka back pain related to disc degeneration, these new disc regeneration studies spread hope for back pain relief.
DISC DEGENERATION AND REGENERATION FACTORS
Researchers are sounding more and more optimistic about disc regeneration. A new group of researchers described the biochemical, mechanical, and structural changes that must all come together to result in disc degeneration in the first place. Giving credit to previous studies on degenerated discs, they admitted that traction/distraction has been shown to boost disc height and decrease intervertebral pressure. (Research about biomechanical effects of Cox® Technic flexion distraction used at Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka has measured a 17% increase in disc height, a 28% increase in area, and an intradiscal pressure decrease in lumbar spine discs to as low as -192mmHg pressure. (1) ) They clarified that not all levels of disc degeneration can be regenerated as all the right conditions must come together for regenerating the disc that did so for its degeneration. They explain that their research showed that traction interrupted the cycle of disc degeneration in the lab study, particularly that 2 to 6 weeks of traction is optimal to regenerate a degenerated disc. (2) Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka tracks this research most excitedly.
IT DOESN’T TAKE MUCH: LOW TENSION DISTRACTION
Another published paper explained that there is greater reconstruction and better effectiveness of disc regeneration or repair using low-tension traction as opposed to high-tension traction. The researchers described that the lab findings are based on the proteoglycan content of the spinal intervertebral disc’s nucleus pulposus, the very center of the disc, which consists of proteoglycans. The proteoglycan content of the nucleus increased significantly. Both 2 and 4 weeks of traction resulted in change, but 4 weeks’ changes were significantly better to 2 weeks. Other disc changes researchers described were the pores in the bony endplate, their number and diameter that all increased. (3) A third study on this topic of potential disc regeneration reported that 28 days of compression followed by 28 days of distraction resulted in disc rehydration, accelerated extracellular matrix gene expression, and increased numbers of protein-expressing cells. (4) With these exciting papers in mind, Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka provides safe, gentle, low-tension to patient tolerance distraction according to The Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management protocols. Sitka back pain sufferers are thankful we do!
CONTACT Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka
Listen to this PODCAST with Dr. James Cox on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he relays how The Cox® Technic System is designed for back pain relief of disc degeneration-related pain.
Schedule your next Sitka chiropractic visit today. If you have disc degeneration- related back pain, disc re-generation as a futuristic concept may not be so far away. Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka is watching the developments that may lead to and support disc regeneration. Our Sitka back pain patients have hope!
