ELDOA for Disc Injury

Can the ELDOA Method help heal a disc problem?

If you have a painful disc injury, you know that a healthy spine is essential to a happy life.  The discs between the spinal bones cushion your spine against impact, allow for movement in many directions, and slow down the spine’s aging process.  An unhealthy or thinning disc is a precursor to pain, nerve impingement, and age-related degeneration.

Let me talk science for a minute. 

The basic anatomy of a disc is 1) the nucleus 2) the annulus fibrosis.  When forces like gravity and trauma are great enough to cause damage to the inner nucleus, this is called a disc bulge or a herniation. Essentially your inner nucleus squishes out into the outer annulus fibrosis (like a hamburger too big for its bun) or completely breaks through and presses out into the nerve root.

The pressure of that bulge can be enough to cause a life-altering emergency (you can’t feel your leg), or you are doubled over in pain, or perhaps you don’t feel much of anything at all. The body’s response to pain is truly complex.

Whatever form your symptoms take, it might be comforting to know that the severity of your problem and the scale of your pain may be a mismatch.  In other words, more pain does not always equal a more severe problem.  If you have been given the clear to exercise, consider trying the ELDOA Method.

ELDOA is the work of famed fascia expert Guy VOYER DO, PT, PHD, who’s mission it is to solve “the pain of the world”, back pain.  I have trained under Dr. Voyer and studied his work since the ELDOA made its appearance in the United States in 2013. ELDOA (Longitudinal Osteoarticular Decoaptation Stretches or LOADS in English). The ELDOA exercises work by normalizing the fascial tension within the joints and restoring an upright posture. Learn more.

Hydrate to Heal

To understand how the ELDOA relates to the disc, you must first understand why dehydration is your spine’s worst enemy.  The ligamentous discs between the spinal bones contain water which gets pressed out by the hour as you go about your day standing and sitting.  By the end of the day, your spine is less hydrated and you are shorter (up to 2 cm in a healthy person).  Disc dehydration is why drinking alcohol or flying on an airplane can cause some serious pain. It’s not just the made-for-a-hobbit airline seat you’ve been crammed into for six hours. 

During the night while the spine is less pressed down by gravity and muscle tone, water is absorbed back into the disc space.  This process of reabsorption is called imbibation.  

It is critical to drink A LOT of water because the body will preserve the functioning of your internal organs first.  That means that in a state of mild dehydration your organs will continue to function at the expense of your shock absorbers.  If there’s no available water left for your spinal discs, it’s too bad so sad.

Drink your water, do your ELDOA.

The ELDOA exercises rehydrate the disc and push in healing nutrients by actively stimulating the spinal segment.  For clarity the spinal segment includes the the disc and the bones above and below the disc.  

The ELDOA postures are local. Meaning they target very specific segments such as L4/L5.  In contrast many physical therapy exercises are global in nature, such as strengthening the abs to support the spine.  The muscles being worked have a less direct relationship to the injured spinal segment.

A solution for back pain.

The ELDOA is great news for someone with a diagnosed disc bulge or herniation.  ELDOA makes it possible to heal the exact location of injury by performing a specific posture for just one minute a day.  The ELDOA posture decreases the load on the disc, allowing the disc to rehydrate and restore to its normal height. 

(Please note I am not a medical doctor and I do not diagnose or treat any disease.)  

I will refer to my clients’ X-ray and MRI reports for information on which segments to stimulate with ELDOA postures.  I teach postures that are specific to the individual, and I give a home program that can be done each day for maximum healing.  It’s always my pleasure to consult other therapists to develop extremely effective programs for patients who are ready to move beyond prescribed physical therapy.

ELDOA is a very safe exercise that is appropriate for disc bulge, osteoarthritis, scoliosis, osteoporosis and degenerative joint disease. ELDOA also works with healthy people and athletes who want to maximize their performance and longevity.

I hear it said often: “The ELDOA is for those with back pain and those who never want back pain”. That’s why we do group class each week. Anyone can do the class virtually at 11:30am Central. Click the link below to get a complimentary first class.

Hello!

I’m Stephanie Vanderbeck, Certified Level IV ELDOA Practitioner, Pilates teacher, and Wellness Coach. I help busy professionals who work from home improve their posture, relieve back pain, and become more fit than ever in 30 minutes a day without leaving their home office. Contact me.

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