Aging gets blamed for a lot of ills…including neck motion changes. You’re not alone if you discover
that you don’t turn your head quite as effortlessly
or as far as you once did or that you don’t flex or extend it like you once did. Degenerative discs and
vertebrae and associated osteophytes play a role
in limiting movement. Apple Country Chiropractic is here to help your neck motions
with gentle chiropractic treatment!
CERVICAL SPINE MOTION
Physiological motion of the spine sounds
like something good, does it not? It does! In the cervical
spine, researchers have noted how a consistent sequence of
cervical segmental contributions function when the neck moves. This
sequence is common in 80-90% of young healthy persons. But what
about the motions in older persons with aging spines?
Decreased movement has been linked
to aging. A recent study by some inquisitive researchers
set out to determine if such consistent neck
motions in asymptomatic young people were the same in elderly
asymptomatic persons. They didn’t. They concluded that aging - as
demonstrated by the motion patterns seen in elderly asymptomatic persons - was linked
to a loss of consistent motion patterns as seen
in young asymptomatic persons. For example, the consistent pattern in young
asymptomatic persons was found in only 10% of the older persons at T1 and 0% at
T2. (1) As our Williamson chiropractic friends and family age along
with us, we’re not alone in noticing motion
changes. Apple Country Chiropractic offers gentle Cox® Technic treatment in order to allow as much motion to spinal segments
as possible. If you see limitations in your neck
motions, let us know! We can examine you to find the usual sources
that may be the cause.
WHAT COMES WITH AGING THAT LIMITS NECK MOTION: Osteophytes
Osteophytes are commonly seen in elderly
folks’ vertebrae of the lumbar and cervical spines. Anterior osteophytes continue
developing and eventually provoke neck pain
or back pain. Since osteophytes are so common and result in such pain, researchers found a way to predict the mean
time to onset of pain and the course of degeneration that happens
in these vertebrae based on data from following patients’ osteophytes
for 9 years. (2) We know our Williamson chiropractic patients with
osteophytes are not as curious as to how long ago their osteophytes
started, but rather how our chiropractic care can help! Here is an
interesting case involving osteophytes and relieving chiropractic
care: Osteophytes may contribute to patients’
developing dysphagia (aka difficulty with swallowing). A case report detailed the presentation
of a 53-year-old woman with a sore throat, difficulty swallowing solid foods,
and acid reflux. Her imaging showed anterior osteophytes as well
as kyphosis (abnormal curvature) of her cervical spine and thoracolumbar
scoliosis, any of which could contribute to her dysphagia. Six
months of chiropractic care calmed her issues. (3) Chiropractic care works!
CONTACT Apple Country Chiropractic
Listen to the PODCAST
with Dr. Shay Corbin on the Back Doctors Podcast with Dr.
Michael Johnson as he shares the effectiveness
and gentleness of the Cox® Technic System
of Spinal Pain Management for his musician patient dealing with
neck and back pain.
Schedule your next Williamson
chiropractic appointment with Apple Country Chiropractic. Bring your aging spine, your
less-than-mobile cervical spine, your stiff neck
to our clinic. We can work toward improved mobility!
"This information and website content is not intended to diagnose, guarantee results, or recommend specific treatment or activity. It is designed to educate and inform only. Please consult your physician for a thorough examination leading to a diagnosis and well-planned treatment strategy. See more details on the
DISCLAIMER page. Content is reviewed by
Dr. James M. Cox I."