Degenerative Disk DiseaseWhat is Degenerative disk disease?Our spine is made of 33 vertebrae that are stacked up on top of one another. There is a rubbery piece of cartilage between these vertebrae and is called the intervertebral disk. Imagine disk as a tire with gelatin kind of substance on the hole of the tire. The tire (outer part) is called the annulus and the gelatin type of substance is called the nucleus. As we age, or due to some injury, wear and tear occurs and we start to lose gelatin type of substance and hence the volume of the disk decreases. As a result, the space the vertebrae decreases and the disk becomes flatter and less flexible .When the rough surface of the vertebral joint rub together, inflammation occurs and may feel pain as the nerves get compressed or irritated. It may occur throughout the spine or may confine to one disk.

Who is at risk? People who smoke

People who are obese People who does heavy physical work People who does not exercise Aging

What are the symptoms?People who have degenerative disk in the neck usually feel pain in the arm, shoulder or neck region. A degenerative disk in the low back might cause pain in the back, buttocks or legs. Most often pain gets aggravated by sitting, bending and reaching. The symptoms is at it peak in the morning or it worsens by continuous sitting or standing. In several cases, since the nerve gets compressed, it may lead to numbness, tingling and even weakness in arms and legs.

Physical Therapy TreatmentsAn experienced physical therapist will do a thorough evaluation and will design a treatment program based on the evaluation and your personal goals. The primary goal of a physical therapist is to help you to get back to daily activities.

Stretching and flexibility exercises will increase the mobility in the joints and muscles of your spine and extremities. This is very important to relieve pain. Strengthening trunk muscle provides support to spine and strengthening muscles of arms and legs, helps to take the work load from the spine. Aerobic exercise has also proven to be very helpful in managing degenerative disk disease as it promotes healthy body weight, and increase overall mobility and strength. Manual therapy is also included in the treatment to improve mobility of stiff joints and tight muscles that may be contributing to your symptoms. You physical therapist will correct your posture and will provide movement education. It may help to relieve pain as well as manage condition on your own. Physical therapist may also use heat therapy, cold therapy and electrical stimulation to manage pain. Once the pain has declined it is very important that you may continue the posture corrections and movements habit which was initially taught by the physical therapist to keep your back healthy.

ReferencePhysical Therapist's Guide to Degenerative Disk Disease . (n.d.). Retrieved July 01, 2013, from Move Forward: http://www.moveforwardpt.com/SymptomsConditionsDetail.aspx?cid=514086b4-1272-4584-8742-ec6d2aa8f8cb