Possible Regeneration for Williamson Disc Degeneration
The future: disc re-generation! It is an exciting possibility being studied today. Turning disc degeneration into disc regeneration holds hope for back pain sufferers all around. What’s the most recent proposed process? Distraction. Just what your Williamson chiropractor at Apple Country Chiropractic is quite experienced in delivering! Williamson chiropractic spinal manipulation is beneficial. For Williamson back pain associated with disc degeneration, these new disc regeneration reports extend hope for back pain relief.
DISC DEGENERATION AND REGENERATION FACTORS
Researchers seem more and more optimistic about disc regeneration. A new group of researchers defined the biochemical, mechanical, and structural modifications that must all come together to result in disc degeneration initially. Giving credit to prior studies on degenerated discs, they acknowledged that traction/distraction has been shown to boost disc height and reduce intervertebral pressure. (Research about biomechanical effects of Cox® Technic flexion distraction utilized at Apple Country Chiropractic 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 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 report that their research demonstrated 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) Apple Country Chiropractic follows this research most enthusiastically.
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 on the proteoglycan content of the spinal intervertebral disc’s nucleus pulposus, the very center of the disc, which is made up 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 described 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 increased numbers of protein-expressing cells. (4) With these exciting papers in mind, Apple Country Chiropractic provides safe, gentle, low-tension to patient tolerance distraction according to The Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management protocols. Williamson back pain sufferers are happy we do!
CONTACT Apple Country Chiropractic
Listen to this PODCAST with Dr. James Cox on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he relays how The Cox® Technic System is designed for back pain relief of disc degeneration-related pain.
Schedule your next Williamson chiropractic visit now. If you have disc degeneration- related back pain, disc re-generation as a futuristic concept may not be so futuristic. Apple Country Chiropractic is watching the developments that may lead to and support disc regeneration. Our Williamson back pain patients have hope!
