Bone Spurs And My Back? What are they? Bone spurs or osteophytes, are bony projections that form off of the bones of the spine, (vertebra) and joints of the extremities, (shoulders, elbow, wrists, hip, knee, ankle and foot).
So what causes this? Gravity: The simple fact that the core of the earth constantly pulls on you (9.80665 m/s2 or 32.1737 ft/s2).
Repetitive micro-trauma: This is the cumulative effect of everything you do, what I call the activities of daily living; work, play, even just sitting on the couch.
Trauma: Any major accidents (car, falling down, etc.) can be the beginning.
The consequences? Bone spurs typically limit joint motion, which leads to: tight muscles, adhesion build-up and trapping of chemical fluids, all of which can lead to acute or chronic joint and muscle pain.
What to do?
Chiropractic adjustments: Surprise! Routine care is the best way to maintain proper joint motion and decrease the risk of bone spur formation and/or slow the progression.
Stretching/exercise: Motion, motion, motion. Keep your joints healthy with daily activity, avoid long episodes of sitting or standing.
Keep the weight off: Fewer pounds = less stress on the bones = fewer bone spurs.
Have pain? Worried about bone spurs? Come in and get checked today!