What is Spinal Decay? Spinal Decay is the process in which the spinal column gradually becomes more rigid, dehydrated, and compressed. Often referred to as osteoarthritis, this disease affects up to 27 million people in the US alone and is one of the top 5 reasons people will seek medical care.
Most people associated spinal decay with "normal aging" or "wear and tear." The truth is that aging and arthritis are not the same thing. There are more variables that can lead to more or less spinal decay. Spinal Decay is not inevitable and does not automatically "come with age" but it can be harder to manage as we age. Healthy lifestyle habits can prevent and slow spinal decay and degeneration. The following will likely influence the level and progression of spinal decay:
History of trauma or accidents like car accidents
Lack of sleep due to stress and anxiety
Illness or infections
Lack of hydration
Level of Inflammation and toxic load
Sedentary lifestyle
Repetitive Injuries and Overuse
Current treatment protocols mostly include prescription medications to manage pain. Often these are in the form of pain killers or non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) which have been proven to be dangerous with long term use. The reality is the best treatment of arthritis is prevention. "Movement is medicine when it comes to your joints." A healthy, active, and low inflammatory lifestyle will drastically slow the progression of spinal decay. Just like regularly flossing and brushing your teeth prevents tooth decay from building up, there are things you can do proactively to protect your spine. These include:
Chiropractic care
Massage therapy
Daily Stretching and Exercise
Eating a whole food, low inflammatory diet
Staying hydrated
"Boiling it down to the simplest statement, the best way to combat the effects of arthritis is to change the way you eat, move your body, manage your stress, and get adjusted."
From the desk of Dr. Lisette Miller Kondrad. Dr. Miller is a licensed Chiropractic Physician and Board Certified Acupuncture Provider. She has helped hundreds of patients through chiropractic care, acupuncture, and wellness techniques. Click here to contact Clark Road Chiropractic Center with any questions or to schedule your appointment!