Do the discs in the spine flatten?
The answer to this question is “yes” they can over time.
“Discs” in the spine are called Intervertebral discs. There are a total of 24 discs, and they are between vertebrae throughout the spine. They are made up of firbrocartilaginous material, and is comparable to a donut with jelly in the center. The outside of the disc is made of a strong material called the annulus fibrosus. The jelly-like interior is known as the nucleus pulposus.
The discs absorb pressure and provide cushioning for the spine. They are flexible yet sturdy enough to facilitate movement, such as bending forward, backward and side to side.
However, the integrity of the discs changes over time due to use and age, and disc tissue flattens.
This is termed degenerative disc disease (DDD), which is not a disease, but a condition in which natural wear-and-tear on a disc causes pain, instability, and other symptoms.
The discs in the spine start to dry out, there by losing some of their flexibility and shock absorption. As part of this process, the inner portion of the disc shrinks, the outer part of the disc can suffer small tears, which lead to less cushioning between the boney vertebrae in the spine. These changes can cause low back pain.
Degenerative Disc Disease can be diagnosed by x-ray and MRI.
Physiotherapy can treat Degenerative Disc Disease by minimizing symptoms, improving spinal range of motion, and prescribing specific exercises to strengthen spinal muscles and maintain flexibility. Some of our pain relieving machines can also be helpful as well as our traction or spinal decompression machines.
Contact the Halton Community Rehabilitation Centre today for more information on how we can help manage your low back pain!
