A cushion. A spacer. A spring. A spinal disc. Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka
knows a lot about the spinal intervertebral disc!
Sitka chiropractic back pain and neck pain patients appreciate
that knowledge! The intervertebral disc in the human spine performs as a separator to hold the spinal bones apart, the vertebrae, apart and allows motion of the
spine. The disc also provides a large opening for the
nerves exiting the spine through which to pass. If this opening is
narrowed, which occurs when discs degenerate
and lose height, the nerves passing through are compressed. This compression impedes
circulation to the nerve and inflammation of the nerve starts.
The narrowing of the nerve opening is termed Sitka
spinal stenosis. Shown here is a schematic and MRI depiction
of normal and stenotic nerve openings.
A SPRING
The intervertebral disc works
like a spring to keep the vertebra apart. The normal disc
therefore performs to preclude
nerve compression and to permit spinal motion. When the disc
degenerates, or thins, it permits the adjacent vertebra to come
closer to one another, resulting in motion
loss, nerve compression, and pain in the back or down the arms or legs. What keeps the
intervertebral disc height? Normal discs have a content of a
chemical termed glycosaminoglycan (GAG) which permits
the disc to absorb water from the fluid entering the disc. Actually, the interior
of a healthy disc is 80% water. The GAG content in the
inner disc reduces significantly with degeneration, thus lowering
the water content of the disc. The loss of water in the disc
because of GAG loss is called degeneration. Disc degeneration decreases
the ability of the disc to resist motion by over 65%. The inability
to control motion of the vertebrae is called instability. (1)
BENEFICIAL TREATMENT: COX® TECHNIC
Let’s look at two benefits for
the spine when Cox® distraction manipulation is delivered.
First, Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka offers a specialized form
of Sitka spinal manipulation which increases the
disc space height, increases the nerve opening size, decreases
pressure within the disc to assist in circulation, returns
lost range of motion to the spine and creates nerve
conduction to the brain for pain relief. (4) This latter benefit is termed
afferentation. The manipulation undoes the effects of
gravitational and work effort changes in the spine that result in
spinal stenosis and loss of motion. Researchers revealed
that spinal mobilization with leg movement in patients with lower extremity
sciatica pain reduced low back and leg pain intensity, disability, pain; improved
range of motion of spine; and gratified patients in the short
and long term. (2) Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka
benefits Sitka back pain sufferers’ discs!
Second, Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka may suggest nutritional
delivery of glycosaminoglycan by capsule which is enhanced
when combined with Cox® Technic. This combination
allows higher levels in the disc. It is
this glycosaminoglycan that absorbs water to nine times its own volume, generating
greater fluid content in the disc to improve both nerve opening
size and aid prevention of disc degeneration and inflammation. Folic
acid (Vitamin B9) plays a part in peripheral nerve injury repair
by encouraging Schwann cell proliferation, migration,
and secretion of nerve growth factor. (3)
CONTACT Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka
Listen to this PODCAST by Dr. Jonathan Cerrutti as he discusses his
chiropractic care of a painful, stenotic disc and spinal canal due to disc herniation on
The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson.
Schedule your Sitka chiropractic appointment
today. Your Sitka spine will be grateful for the
attention you give its cushy, separating, springy spinal disc!