Santa Barbara Chiropractor

You know what they say, When you consider the alternative, getting old isn’t so bad.” However, it’s no joke if the aging process is causing you pain! As a Santa Barbara chiropractor, I give care to a lot of people suffering from age-related challenges that likely would not have happened if the exacerbating cause had been addressed earlier in life, especially when it comes 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 challenges over time. But, as another saying goes, “Hindsight is 20-20.” If we only knew back then how our aging body would feel today!

Back pain is number one on the list as the most prevalent musculoskeletal condition to develop as we age. Back pain that is age-related is generally caused by spine osteoarthritis, or Spondylosis, a degenerative disorder.

Spinal osteoarthritis is caused by advanced deterioration and weight-bearing stress on the spine that eventually damages discs, joints, and surrounding ligaments. The area of the body and measure of the degenerative process of spondylosis varies from person to person. The areas that are generally affected are the cervical (neck), thoriacic (mid-back), or lumbar (low back). Spondylosis symptoms are individual as well, depending on the severity of degeneration, and can extend from low-amplitude pain and numbness to extreme sensory loss and muscular atrophy.

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

Whether or not you are suffering from spondylosis, regular chiropractic care and overall chiropractic management can significantly decelerate age-related degeneration 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 attention it deserves. Chiropractors are experts when it comes to treatment of the spine. See your chiropractor in Santa Barbara today, for the health of your spine.