Many terms are used to describe disc disorders of the spine which leads to confusion even among professionals.1 Let's begin by describing normal disc anatomy and proceed to various common pathologies. You may find use of Integrative Learning Center of Mid-America's online animation library particularly helpful as you read this article. See the Spine Condition [...]
What is Spinal Stenosis? Stenosis indicates a narrowing of the space in which the spinal cord resides. This narrowing of the spine can compress the spinal cord (SC) or the nerves exiting the spinal canal1. Narrowing can occur throughout the spine but is most commonly found in the vulnerable joints of the neck or lower [...]
What is Spondylolithesis? Spondylolithesis results when a vertebral dysfunction occurs, usually at the articulating processes or joints between two vertebral levels, and one vertebrae slips forward over the vertebra beneath it. This most often occurs in the lumbar spine resulting in a narrowing of the vertebral foramen through which the spinal cord passes.1 You may [...]
What is Scoliosis? To understand scoliosis it may be helpful to first consider what normal spinal curvature entails. The spinal column is a stack of individual vertebrae ranging from 2" to 6" in diameter.1 There are 7-cervical, 12-thoracic, 5-lumbar separate vertebral bones plus fused bones which make up the sacrum and coccyx region.2 When viewed [...]
What is Spondylosis? Spondylosis is also known as degenerative joint disease (DJD) or osteoarthritis of the spine. As we age there is normal wear and tear on the bony joint surfaces between the individual vertebrae which make up the spinal column.1 However, if the normal aging process is coupled with other factors such as faulty [...]
The knee joint is formed by the ends of three bones: the lower end of the thigh bone (femur), the upper end of the shin bone (tibia), and the kneecap (patella). Located on the sides and in the middle of the joint are thick, non-elastic tissue bands called ligaments. Ligaments bind and connect the bones [...]
Understanding Bone Health Bone is living tissue that is constantly changing and is influenced throughout the life span by the balance between bone formation and reabsorption. The functions of bone are: 1) storing minerals, 2) making red blood cells, 3) providing the skeletal foundation for movement & posture. Age Related Changes in Bone Cortical (80% [...]
In order to understand the basics of Bone Mineral Density (BMD), it is helpful to simplify it for those of us without a medical or scientific background. Having said this, it is important to say that much can be lost in the simplification. For a thorough understanding, one must look at the quality of the [...]
Osteoarthritis is a name of a medical condition that is the ongoing and the end result of a repeated attempt of the body’s ability to repair and heal itself from sustained and compromised pressure. Osteoarthritis (OA) simply means inflammation (itis) of the boney (osteo) joint (arthro). Although there are several types of joints, joint is [...]
In 1992, the World Health Organization (WHO) Study Group on Assessment of Fracture Risk and its Application for Postmenopausal Osteoporosis met and subsequently published their findings and recommendations. The major aim of the group was to evaluate available methods for the assessment of fracture risk and how those methods could be used in screening for [...]