A cushion. A spacer. A spring. A spinal disc. Executive Chiropractic of Iowa
knows a lot about the spinal intervertebral disc!
West Des Moines chiropractic back pain and neck pain patients appreciate
that knowledge! The intervertebral disc in the human spine acts as a separator to hold the spinal bones apart, the vertebrae, apart and permits motion of the
spine. The disc also maintains a large opening for the
nerves exiting the spine through which to pass. If this opening is
thinned, which occurs 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 shrinking of the nerve opening is called West Des Moines
spinal stenosis. Shown here is a schematic and MRI picture
of normal and stenotic nerve openings.
A SPRING
The intervertebral disc functions
like a spring to hold the vertebra apart. The normal disc
therefore acts to prevent
nerve compression and to allow spinal motion. When the disc
degenerates, or thins, it allows the adjacent vertebra to move nearer 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 have a content of a
chemical termed glycosaminoglycan (GAG) which allows
the disc to take up water from the fluid entering the disc. Actually, 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 incapacity
to control motion of the vertebrae is called instability. (1)
BENEFICIAL TREATMENT: COX® TECHNIC
Let us consider two benefits for
the spine when Cox® distraction manipulation is delivered.
First, Executive Chiropractic of Iowa offers a specialized form
of West Des Moines spinal manipulation which increases the
disc space height, boosts the nerve opening size, reduces
pressure within the disc to help in circulation, restores
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 reverses the effects of
gravitational and work effort changes in the spine that cause
spinal stenosis and loss of motion. A study 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 satisfied patients in the short
and long term. (2) Executive Chiropractic of Iowa
benefits West Des Moines back pain sufferers’ discs!
Second, Executive Chiropractic of Iowa may suggest nutritional
delivery of glycosaminoglycan by capsule which is boosted
when combined with Cox® Technic. Combining these two
allows increased levels in the disc. It is
this glycosaminoglycan that absorbs water to nine times its own volume, creating
greater 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 helping Schwann cell proliferation, migration,
and secretion of nerve growth factor. (3)
CONTACT Executive Chiropractic of Iowa
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 West Des Moines chiropractic appointment
today. Your West Des Moines spine will be grateful for the
attention you give its cushy, separating, springy spinal disc!