Possible Regeneration for St Peters Disc Degeneration
The future: disc re-generation! It’s an exciting possibility being studied today. Converting disc degeneration into disc regeneration holds hope for back pain sufferers everywhere. What is the latest suggested process? Distraction. Just what your St Peters chiropractor at Old Mill Chiropractic is well-trained to do! St Peters chiropractic spinal manipulation is beneficial. For St Peters back pain associated with disc degeneration, these new disc regeneration studies extend hope for back pain relief.
DISC DEGENERATION AND REGENERATION FACTORS
Researchers are sounding more and more optimistic about disc regeneration. A recent group of researchers defined the biochemical, mechanical, and structural modifications that must all come together to result in disc degeneration initially. Giving credit to previous studies on degenerated discs, they conceded 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 Old Mill Chiropractic has demonstgrated 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 experimental study, particularly that 2 to 6 weeks of traction is optimal to regenerate a degenerated disc. (2) Old Mill Chiropractic 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 upon the proteoglycan content of the nucleus pulposus of the spinal intervertebral disc, the very center of the disc, which consists of proteoglycans. The proteoglycan content of the nucleus rose 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 reported on were the pores in the bony endplate, their number and diameter that all improved. (3) A third study on this topic of potential disc regeneration related that 28 days of compression followed by 28 days of distraction resulted in disc rehydration, stimulated extracellular matrix gene expression, and augmented numbers of protein-expressing cells. (4) With these exciting papers as support, Old Mill Chiropractic provides safe, gentle, low-tension to patient tolerance distraction according to The Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management protocols. St Peters back pain sufferers are glad we do!
CONTACT Old Mill Chiropractic
Listen to this PODCAST with Dr. James Cox on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he describes how The Cox® Technic System is designed for back pain relief of disc degeneration-related pain.
Schedule your next St Peters chiropractic visit now. If you suffer with back pain related to disc degeneration, disc re-generation as a futuristic concept may not be so far away. Old Mill Chiropractic is watching the developments that may lead to and support disc regeneration. Our St Peters back pain patients have hope!
