An adjustment does not cause a disc to wear down. What an adjustment can do is help correct a major reason why a disc might wear down in the first place.

So, how does a disc wear down? And what is a disc?

A disc is found between most bones of the spine. There are 23 total intervertebral discs; 6 in the cervical, 12 in the thoracic and 5 in the lumbar. There are no intervertebral discs found between the skull and the top bone of the neck, the atlas, and between the atlas and the second bone of the neck, the axis.

An intervertebral disc (IVD for short) is a unique type of cartilage that is a ligament for the spinal column. A ligament helps attach one bone to another bone. In general, there are 6 functions of an intervertebral disc. They:

1. Help absorb shock (vibration and impact)

2. Attach spinal bones together

3. Give shape to the spinal column (curves of the spine)

4. Act as a powerful ligament

5. Separate spinal bones

6. Form the anterior wall of the intervertebral foramina (where nerves transmit from)

IVDs have a greater chance to wear down when the spinal bones they attach to are misaligned. If a joint is misaligned, all the muscles and ligaments that attach to the joint become imbalanced. This creates an aberrant motion in the joint.

“Aberrant motion refers to a loss of smooth or gliding movement generally found in synovial or cartilaginous articulations.” - Douglas Gates, DC

Aberrant motion puts added stress on the structures of the spine, especially the intervertebral discs. The intervertebral discs have a greater potential to wear down with aberrant motion.

This “wear and tear” potential is similar to what happens to your tire’s tread if your car is not in proper alignment. When the car is misaligned, the tires become imbalanced. The aberrant motion of the tires effects their structure and function.

The wearing down of a disc is one aspect of spinal degeneration. The spine can gradually and progressively break down when the vertebral joints and its connected structures are misaligned. Misalignments are caused by factors such as bad posture, intervertebral disc deterioration and traumatic injuries.

When the spine is better adjusted, the potential for the disc to wear down is actually minimized. The definition of the word adjustment means to “put back into proper position and placement.” A Chiropractic adjustment assists the body in putting the spine back into its proper position and placement.

A Chiropractic adjustment focuses on a certain type of misaligned spinal joint, a vertebral subluxation. A vertebral subluxation is a misaligned spine bone that negatively effects nerve function. The Chiropractic adjustment does not “wear down” discs, but helps keep spinal discs as vital as possible.

- Jarek Esarco, DC, CACCP

Related Blogs:

1. "When I Get Adjusted, What is That Noise!?"

2. Doesn't an Adjustment Take a Great Deal of Strength?

3. My Medical Doctor Says That Chiropractors Break Spines!

4. Isn't it Possible to Hurt Someone by Twisting Their Neck?

Jarek Esarco, DC, CACCP is a pediatric, family wellness and upper cervical specific Chiropractor. He is an active member of the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association (ICPA). Dr. Jarek has postgraduate certification in Pediatric Chiropractic through the ICPA. Dr. Jarek also has postgraduate certification in the HIO Specific Brain Stem technique through The TIC Institute. Dr. Jarek is happily married to his wife Regina. They live in Youngstown, Ohio with their daughter Ruby.