Normal life stressors, possibly compounded by traumatic injuries to the spinal architecture, cause degeneration in the discs and the joints of the spine. With factors such as age, injury, and poor posture, there is cumulative damage to the bone or joints of the spine. For example:

• As disc material slowly wears out, ligaments loosen and excess motion occurs at the joint
• The body naturally and necessarily thickens the ligaments that hold the bones together
• Over time, the thick ligaments tend to calcify, resulting in hardening and compression.

As the central spinal canal and the foramina thicken their ligaments, compression of the nervous system causes clinical symptoms.

Degenerative changes to normal vital tissue begin in early adulthood, but usually this slow process does not present with nervous system compression until we are in our sixth or seventh decades. Factors that can accelerate the degenerative process and bone spur growth in the spine include:

• Congenital or heredity
• Nutrition
• Life-style, including poor posture and poor ergonomics
• Traumatic forces, especially sports related injuries and motor vehicle accidents.

As always, to help avoid or minimize back pain it is generally advisable to stay well conditioned (both in terms of aerobics and strength) and to maintain good posture throughout one’s life.