Water is essential to the body. The body is
composed of around 50% water. The
spinal disc is composed of about 80% water. Disc
degeneration entails the loss of water and disc hydration. Chiropractic takes care of disc problems
like disc degeneration with a variety of forms of care.
Exercise assists water diffusion into the disc. Spinal manipulation
enhances diffusion of water into the disc. Drinking water can’t
but help! Rethwill Chiropractic Clinic utilizes
spinal manipulation to take care of our spine pain patients experiencing Eugene back pain and neck pain and related arm
and leg pain and suggests exercise to boost
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 6
months of exercise in this type
of patient, the non-specific low back pain patient, the researchers did
not discover a benefit; however, at
3 months the imaging exhibited higher L5S1
diffusion coefficients. They did explain that other
types of low back pain sufferers may respond differently. (1) Interesting. The increased 'apparent diffusion coefficients' is
promising yet when we read other articles
about diffusion of water into the disc. Wong pointed out
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 disc
diffusion of water. (2) If exercise can boost that even a little,
it has a place in back and neck pain management.
If nothing else, a Eugene back pain
sufferer may well improve the odds of responding
to conservative care by raising the water content of disc with
exercise and spinal manipulation!
Eugene SPINAL MANIPULATION AND WATER DIFFUSION
INTO THE DISC
Studies of manual therapy and traction effects on the
intervertebral disc in back pain patients documented
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 vital for a healthy disc. (3)
Beattie reported that changes in the diffusion of water within the discs at L1-2, L2-3, and L5S1 were seen after only one
treatment of spinal manipulation. (4) Rethwill Chiropractic Clinic uses the
gentle distraction treatment called Cox Technic spinal manipulation to create a push-pull-pumping effect on the disc and its endplates to encourage imbibition of fluid into the disc help our
Eugene spine pain patients.
CONTACT Rethwill Chiropractic Clinic
Listen to this PODCAST
with Dr. James Cox on The Back
Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he further describes
the process of disc degeneration and how Cox® Technic Flexion Distraction helps
in its care via manipulation.
Set up your Eugene
chiropractic appointment soon. Your body survives on water. Degenerated discs lose water. Rethwill Chiropractic Clinic
guides Eugene chiropractic patients 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."