.png)
The effect of specific spinal exercises on the intervertebral disc
The project investigated the effect of pressure changes and fluid flow in the intervertebral disc on aggrecan (a proteoglycan) synthesis and degradation.
Project leader
Dr Tom Joyce
Dates
January 2010 to December 2015
Project staff
Ms Cate Wilson
Partners
Newcastle University Medical School
Description
Low back pain affects 80% of people at some point during their life. The exercises and advice given to patients for low back pain are sometimes conflicting. Are patients given sub-optimal therapy? Can we add scientific justification to exercises proposed for patients?
Degeneration of the intervertebral disc resulting in a depletion of proteoglycan content may be responsible for a great number of cases of low back pain.
Previous studies have demonstrated that a reduction in proteoglycan concentration within the disc reduces the ability of the disc to hold fluid.
This reduces disc height, which can lead to various painful disorders of the spine, including spondylosis and stenosis.
A reduction in aggrecan linked within the ingrowth of nerves into the disc causes discogenic pain.
Pressure changes on disc cells in vitro increase the proteoglycan synthesis.
This study aimed to link proteoglycan synthesis with pressure changes caused by movement of the spine.
Its aim was also to determine which exercises given to patients with low back pain would be most beneficial to promote the best proteoglycan synthesis.