The Impact of Osteochondrosis on Spinal Health: Understanding Symptoms, Risk Factors, and Treatment
Are you frequently bothered by lower back pain? Struggling to straighten up after prolonged sitting? Feeling like you’ve lost agility in your spine and your movement has become more rigid? Over the years, intervertebral discs, responsible for the flexibility of the spine, can thin out and become less elastic. This leads to narrowing spaces between vertebrae and can even result in bone spurs (spondylophytes) pressing on nerve roots. Various symptoms can occur, mainly varying degrees of pain and restricted mobility – a condition known as osteochondrosis.
Although the disease is degenerative and irreversible, with the right approach and lifestyle changes, you can ensure that pain does not become a part of your daily life and that your spine continues to serve you – so you can regain flexibility and activity. In the following sections, learn about the characteristics and symptoms of osteochondrosis and discover why specialized physiotherapy plays a crucial role in the rehabilitation process.
Did you know that the first, albeit imperceptible, degenerative changes in the spine begin in your twenties? By the age of 30, intervertebral discs start to thin out, leading to the initial stage of osteochondrosis.
What is Osteochondrosis?
Osteochondrosis most commonly affects joints exposed to significant mechanical stress. The most frequent location is the spine, but it can also occur in the knee joint, ankle, or elbow, especially in children and adolescents.
It can affect any part of the spine, but it most commonly occurs in the lumbar and cervical regions.
Do You Belong to a High-Risk Group?
Learn about the risk factors for developing osteochondrosis:
- AGE: Degenerative processes are more common in individuals over 40 years old. Intervertebral discs lose water and elasticity with age, reducing their ability to absorb mechanical forces. The degeneration process usually begins in the twenties when discs start losing water and becoming less elastic.
- IMPROPER LOADING: One of the key causes of osteochondrosis is improper loading of the spine. Prolonged sitting, heavy lifting, and poor posture are common contributing factors that lead to the development of this disease. Improper loading of the spine leads to weight distribution imbalance, causing excessive wear on intervertebral discs and subsequent degenerative changes.
- PAThOLOGICAL SPINE CURVATURE: Anatomical abnormalities can cause an imbalance in vertebral loading, leading to excessive wear on certain structures.
- PAST INJURIES: Injuries to the spine or musculoskeletal system increase the risk of degenerative changes.
- PHYSICAL STRAIN: Repetitive movements and heavy physical work accelerate the wear of intervertebral discs.
In addition to these factors, other factors such as hormonal changes, metabolic disorders, smoking, and stress can contribute to the development of osteochondrosis. Hormonal changes can affect bone and cartilage health, while metabolic disorders can affect the spine’s nutrient supply. Smoking reduces blood flow and tissue oxygen supply, negatively affecting spine health. Stress and psychological factors can contribute to muscle tension and further burden the spine.
Early recognition and management of osteochondrosis are key to preventing disease progression and reducing the risk of permanent spinal damage. Untreated osteochondrosis can lead to chronic pain syndromes, disc herniation, scoliosis, spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis, neurological complications, and even disability. With appropriate rehabilitation and treatment, it is possible to improve spinal functionality and prevent further deterioration.
With the correct diagnosis and appropriate rehabilitation, osteochondrosis symptoms can improve to the extent that you won’t need spinal surgery. PHOTO: Medicofit
Preventing Pain and Complications
Age should not be an excuse for experiencing back pain. Although you can’t prevent all changes, you can do the most with prevention. The worst thing you can do is surrender to the passage of time and accept daily challenges.
With concrete changes easily incorporated into your daily routine, you can prevent or alleviate symptoms and progression.
Proper posture, regular physical activity, and avoiding excessive strain on your spine are key factors in preventing osteochondrosis and maintaining a healthy spine throughout your life.