Santa Barbara Chiropractor

You have, no doubt, heard the old saying, “Growing old isn’t so bad when you consider the alternative.” However, it’s nothing to joke about if the aging process is causing you pain! As a chiropractor in Santa Barbara, I give care to many individuals suffering from age-related challenges that might not have taken place if the original cause had been addressed earlier in life, particularly when it relates to musculoskeletal breakdowns. Poor posture, improper gait, and repetitive overuse commonly produce undue stress in the back, neck, hip, knees, and even the feet that can result in painful problems over time. If we only knew then how our aging body would feel today, eh? However, as they say, “hindsight is 20-20.”

As you can see from the list areas of pain above, there are a large number of musculoskeletal problems that can, and often do, develop as we get older, however painful back problems are one of the most prevalent. Age-related back pain is most commonly produced by spine osteoarthritis, or Spondylosis, a degenerative disorder.

Spondylosis is caused by prolonged deterioration and weight-bearing stress on the spine that, over time, does harm to the discs, joints, and surrounding ligaments. The specific area(s) and degree of the degenerative process of spondylosis varies from person to person. The areas likely to be affected are the cervical (neck), thoriacic (mid-back), or lumbar (low back). Spondylosisi symptoms very from person to person and depend on the severity of the degeneration, and can range from low-amplitude pain and numbness to gross sensory loss and muscular atrophy.

Calcium is deposited in the tissues around the vertebrae as the result of repetitive stresses that negatively affect the cartilage around the joints These calcific deposits, known as bone spurs, can constrict adjacent nerves, blood vessels and soft tissue. This particular of compression is at the root of Spondylosis.

Even if you are not suffering from spondylosis, regular chiropractic adjustments and overall chiropractic management can considerably delay the aging process of your spine. It may be true that “you can’t un-ring a bell” or “turn back the hands of time,” but it isn’t too late to give your spine the consideration it deserves. Chiropractors are experts when it comes to treatment of the spine. See your Santa Barbara Chiropractor today, for the health of your spine.

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