A cushion. A spacer. A spring. A spinal disc. Manchester Chiropractic & Sports Injuries
understands well the spinal intervertebral disc!
Manchester chiropractic back pain and neck pain patients value
that knowledge! The intervertebral disc in the human spine plays
a role 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 happens when discs degenerate
and lose height, the nerves passing through are compressed. This compression slows
circulation to the nerve and inflammation of the nerve starts.
The narrowing of the nerve opening is called Manchester
spinal stenosis. See this schematic and MRI poster
of normal and stenotic nerve openings.
A SPRING
The intervertebral disc performs
like a spring to keep the vertebra apart. The normal disc
therefore performs to prevent
nerve compression and to allow spinal motion. When the disc
degenerates, or thins, it allows the adjacent vertebra to approximate one another, resulting in loss of motion, compressed nerve, and pain in the back or down the arms or legs. What maintains the
intervertebral disc height? Normal discs contain a
chemical termed glycosaminoglycan (GAG) which permits
the disc to take in water from the fluid coming into the disc. In fact, the inside
of a healthy disc is 80% water. The GAG content in the
inner disc reduces significantly with degeneration, thus dropping
the water content of the disc. Disc water loss
due to GAG loss is called degeneration. Disc degeneration reduces
the ability of the disc to resist motion by over 65%. The inability
to control motion of the vertebrae is termed instability. (1)
BENEFICIAL TREATMENT: COX® TECHNIC
Let’s look at two benefits for
the spine when Cox® distraction manipulation is delivered.
First, Manchester Chiropractic & Sports Injuries offers a specialized form
of Manchester spinal manipulation which increases the
disc space height, increases the nerve opening size, decreases
pressure within the disc to help 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 showed
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 satisfied patients in the short
and long term. (2) Manchester Chiropractic & Sports Injuries
benefits Manchester back pain sufferers’ discs!
Second, Manchester Chiropractic & Sports Injuries may recommend nutritional
delivery of glycosaminoglycan by capsule which is improved
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, creating
higher fluid content in the disc to improve both nerve opening
size and assist prevention of disc degeneration and inflammation. Folic
acid (Vitamin B9) contributes to peripheral nerve injury healing
by promoting Schwann cell proliferation, migration,
and secretion of nerve growth factor. (3)
CONTACT Manchester Chiropractic & Sports Injuries
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 Manchester chiropractic appointment
today. Your Manchester spine will appreciate the
attention you give its cushy, separating, springy spinal disc!