The future: disc re-generation! It’s an exciting possibility being considered today. Converting disc degeneration into disc regeneration holds hope for back pain sufferers everywhere. What is the most recent suggested process? Distraction. Just what your Southern New Hampshire chiropractor at New Hampshire Spine and Sport is quite experienced in delivering! Southern New Hampshire chiropractic spinal manipulation is beneficial. For Southern New Hampshire back pain associated with disc degeneration, these new disc regeneration studies extend hope for back pain relief.
DISC DEGENERATION AND REGENERATION FACTORS
Researchers seem more and more optimistic about disc regeneration. A new set of researchers defined the biochemical, mechanical, and structural changes that must all come together to lead to disc degeneration initially. Giving credit to prior studies on degenerated discs, they conceded that traction/distraction has been shown to increase disc height and decrease intervertebral pressure. (Research about biomechanical effects of Cox® Technic flexion distraction utilized at New Hampshire Spine and Sport has shown a 17% increase in disc height, a 28% increase in area, and an intradiscal pressure drop in lumbar spine discs to as low as -192mmHg pressure. (1) ) They explained that not all levels of disc degeneration can be regenerated as all the necessary conditions must converge for regenerating the disc that did so for its degeneration. They report that their research demonstrated that traction interrupted the cycle of disc degeneration in the laboratory study, particularly that 2 to 6 weeks of traction is optimal to regenerate a degenerated disc. (2) New Hampshire Spine and Sport 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 when low-tension traction instead of high tension traction is used. The researchers described that the lab findings are based upon 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 rose significantly. Both 2 and 4 weeks of traction resulted in change, but 4 weeks’ changes were significantly superior to 2 weeks. Other disc changes researchers reported on 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 as support, New Hampshire Spine and Sport delivers safe, gentle, low-tension to patient tolerance distraction according to The Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management protocols. Southern New Hampshire back pain sufferers are thankful we do!
CONTACT New Hampshire Spine and Sport
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 delivers back pain relief of disc degeneration-related pain.
Schedule your next Southern New Hampshire chiropractic appointment today. If you suffer with back pain related to disc degeneration, disc re-generation as a futuristic concept may not be so far away. New Hampshire Spine and Sport is watching the developments that may lead to and support disc regeneration. Our Southern New Hampshire back pain patients have hope!