Why we shrink in height?

Do you ever wonder why you are getting shorter in stature as you age? One of the reasons can be that the spinal discs are beginning to lose their height as a result of dehydration. I know, you might be thinking that we are going to tell you to drink more water. And you would be correct.

This will not “fix” your problem but it can help the body in many ways. Dehydration is not often talked about as a contributing factor but has been found to be associated with spinal disc degeneration, herniated or bulging discs and cause joint aches.

As people age the intervertebral discs tend to dry and lose strength which results in the loss of disc height in many aging adults. This becomes a problem because the intervertebral discs act as the spines’ shock absorber protecting it from injury. For some people the loss of disc height may be due to an underlying condition such as spondylosis or referred as spinal osteoarthritis and degeneration disc disease.

Over time with the loss of disc height, the disc becomes rigid and it can contribute to the occurrence of nerve impingement, pain, as well as bone and joint inflammation. If the process of degeneration is so intense that it exerts pressure on the nerve roots this can result in intense pain, paresthesia as well as weakness to the associated muscles.

Most cases of spondylosis or spinal osteoarthritis have been found to be caused by poor posture and the loss of normal spinal curves. Abnormal pressure on a spinal joint over a long term basis causes the body to build new bone to compensate for the abnormal stress of this extra weight distribution. For example, when you sit at a computer for 4-6 hours each day looking down, the weight of your head is suspended out away from your body increasing the stress on the front of the cervical spine as well as the neck muscles. Over time this leads to reduced flexibility and reduced function with normal daily activities.

This condition can be managed with a modified lifestyle including chiropractic care to help regain range of motion and flexibility. At Natural Spine Solutions we will address your posture and help you regain your strength as well as flexibility.

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Dr. Wayne M. Fichter Jr. is a chiropractor at Natural Spine Solutions. The business is located at 3913 Schreiber Way in Coeur d’Alene. (208) 966-4425.