Water is central to the body. Water makes up about half of the body. The
spinal disc has around 80% water. Disc
degeneration involves the loss of water and disc hydration. Chiropractic manages disc problems
like disc degeneration with a variety of forms of care.
Exercise helps with water diffusion into the disc. Spinal manipulation
enhances diffusion of water into the disc. Drinking water cannot
hurt either! Soft Health and Healing Clinic utilizes
spinal manipulation to help our spine pain patients suffering
with Brooks back pain and neck pain and related leg and arm pain and suggests exercise to enhance
the effects of spinal manipulation to improve the health of the
spinal disc.
DIFFUSION OF WATER INTO THE DISC VIA EXERCISE
Can exercise benefit the intervertebral disc in
non-specific low back pain sufferers? Researchers reported that
muscles, tendons and bone do respond well, so they looked
at the disc to see if it does. One new study used
imaging to find out. On T2-weighted MRI imaging after six
months of exercise in this type
of patient, the non-specific low back pain patient, the researchers didn’t uncover a benefit though at
3 months the imaging showed increased L5S1
diffusion coefficients. They did explain that other
types of low back pain sufferers may respond differently. (1) That’s
noteworthy. The increased 'apparent diffusion coefficients' is
promising yet when we read other articles
about diffusion of water into the disc. Wong explained
that non-specific low back pain patients who responded with greater than 30%
relief to spinal manipulation therapy compared with non-responders demonstrated
a higher apparent diffusion coefficient for diffusion of water into the disc. (2) If exercise can boost that even a little,
it has a place in neck and back pain management.
If nothing else, a Brooks back pain
sufferer may well increase the odds of responding
to conservative care by raising the water content of disc with
exercise and spinal manipulation!
Brooks SPINAL MANIPULATION AND WATER DIFFUSION
INTO THE DISC
Studies of manual therapy and traction effects on the
intervertebral disc in back pain patients demonstrated
that there is an impact on the physiology (the structure and
function) of the disc primarily via water diffusion and molecular
transport. Both of these are important for a healthy disc. (3)
Beattie reported that changes in the diffusion of water within the the L1-2, L2-3, and
L5S1 discs were seen after only one
treatment of spinal manipulation. (4) Soft Health and Healing Clinic utlilizes the
gentle distraction treatment called Cox Technic spinal manipulation to make a push-pull-pumping effect on the disc and its endplates to encourage imbibition of fluid into the disc help our
Brooks spine pain patients.
CONTACT Soft Health and Healing Clinic
Listen to this PODCAST
with Dr. James Cox on The Back
Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he further discusses
the process of disc degeneration and how Cox® Technic Flexion Distraction helps
in its care via manipulation.
Schedule your Brooks
chiropractic appointment today. Your body survives on water. Disc
degeneration is a loss of water. Soft Health and Healing Clinic
guides Brooks chiropractic back pain sufferers toward
healthier discs with spinal manipulation and exercise to enhance water content.
"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."