Spine Talk: Disc Health & Low Back Pain

Ever wonder why people get shorter as they get older? One of the primary reasons is spinal disc dehydration. There are 24 discs of the spine and with time, gravity, and lack of proper motion, they become dehydrated, and consequently, you get shorter. 

The spinal disc is an avascular cartilage disc meaning it does not have a direct blood supply and relies upon movement for health.

Analogy: Think of the spinal disc as a Sponge:

A wet sponge has plenty of fluid, has flexibility, and fluid readily moves in and out of the sponge. The hydrated disc is also taller than a dry sponge. 

In contrast the dry sponge has little to no flexibility and fluid can’t flow back and forth easily. 

Motion & Nutrition.

Lack of fluid movement in and out of the disc creates local arthritis and is a primary cause of disc degeneration due to nutritional failure. The healthy disc behaves like a water filled sponge, gives off fluid on compression and takes it up on release of pressure. Alternate compression and re-expansion allows a supply of nutrients and removal of metabolic waste. With proper motion, discs will maintain their height and spinal degeneration will be minimized. In simple English: proper motion keeps the discs healthy. 

If proper motion is not maintained, in time, with gravity, trauma and micro trauma, the discs will dehydrate and lead to bony degeneration. 

What to do? Chiropractic adjustments: 

Surprise! Routine care is the best way to maintain proper joint motion and decrease the risk of disc dehydration and spinal degeneration, two big causes of low back pain.