Category: News

It’s completely normal for your spine to change as you get older. Just like your skin develops fine lines or your joints feel a little stiffer, the structures that support your back undergo natural wear and tear over time. While these changes can sometimes lead to discomfort or mobility issues, understanding why they happen — and what you can do to support your spine — can make a meaningful difference in how you feel each day.

Below, we break down the most common age-related changes in the spine along with practical steps you can take to stay strong and mobile at every stage of life.

Disc Degeneration: Losing Cushion and Height

Between each vertebra sits a soft, gel-like disc that acts like a shock absorber. Over the years, these discs naturally lose water content, making them less flexible and less effective at cushioning movement. This process, called disc degeneration, is extremely common and can lead to:

• Stiffness
• Occasional sharp or aching pain
• A feeling of being “compressed” or slightly shorter in height

Disc degeneration is a normal part of aging, but staying active and strengthening the surrounding muscles can often help reduce symptoms.

Arthritis and Joint Changes

Your spine contains small joints called facet joints that help you bend, twist, and move comfortably. With age, these joints may develop osteoarthritis as cartilage gradually wears down.

This can lead to:

• Localized back pain
• Morning stiffness
• Grinding or “catching” sensations
• Inflammation around the affected joints

Although arthritis can’t be reversed, early management and strengthening the supporting muscles can help keep your spine feeling stable and supported.

Loss of Flexibility

As the muscles and connective tissues around the spine naturally tighten with age, your back may become less flexible. You may notice:

• Difficulty bending or reaching
• Tightness after long periods of sitting
• A decrease in overall range of motion

The good news? Flexibility responds very well to consistent stretching, mobility work, and low-impact movement.

Posture Changes

Many people experience posture changes over time. Years of sitting, muscle imbalances, weakened core support, or poor ergonomics can contribute to:

• A forward-leaning or “stooped” posture
• Rounded shoulders
• Increased strain in the neck or lower back

These shifts may place added stress on the spine and, over time, contribute to pain or nerve irritation.

Muscle and Ligament Changes

Aging affects the soft tissues around your spine, too. Back muscles may weaken, especially if you’ve spent years sitting for work or avoiding strenuous activity. Ligaments can also thicken and lose elasticity, contributing to stiffness and reduced mobility. Together, these changes can make the spine feel less stable or flexible.

Bone Density Loss and Compression Fractures

As bone density naturally declines with age, the vertebrae can become more fragile. This increases the risk of compression fractures, especially in individuals with osteoporosis. These tiny fractures can cause sudden back pain and a noticeable decrease in height or change in posture.

Maintaining strong bones through nutrition, weight-bearing exercise, and preventive care is an important part of protecting your spine.

Spinal Stenosis

One of the most common age-related spine conditions is spinal stenosis, which occurs when the spaces within the spine narrow. This often results from a combination of disc degeneration, joint arthritis, and thickening of spinal ligaments.

When narrowing places pressure on the spinal nerves, you may experience:

• Numbness or tingling in the legs
• Weakness
• Pain that worsens when standing or walking but improves when sitting or leaning forward

Stenosis is common and manageable, especially with early evaluation and targeted treatment.

How These Changes Can Affect Daily Life

Age-related changes in the spine may lead to:

• Persistent or intermittent back pain
• Reduced mobility
• Muscle stiffness
• Difficulty walking long distances
• Tingling or numbness caused by nerve irritation
• Increased risk of flare-ups or minor injuries

But aging doesn’t mean living with constant discomfort. Many people maintain strong, healthy spines well into later adulthood by taking a proactive approach.

How to Keep Your Spine Healthy as You Age

You can support your spine with simple, consistent habits:

1. Stay Active
   Movement nourishes the spine. Activities like walking, swimming, yoga, or light strength training increase circulation around your discs and joints, helping reduce stiffness and maintain mobility. Even 10-15 minutes of low-impact activity per day can make a meaningful difference.
2. Practice Good Posture
   Good posture reduces excess strain on the spine. Keep screens at eye level, relax your shoulders down and back, and distribute your weight evenly whether sitting or standing. Small adjustments throughout the day can help prevent long-term discomfort.
   
3. Stretch Regularly
   Gentle stretching counteracts the natural tightening of muscles and ligaments. Moves like knee-to-chest stretches, seated twists, and cat-cow poses help maintain flexibility and reduce morning or evening stiffness.
   
4. Strengthen Your Core
   A strong core acts like scaffolding for your spine. When your core muscles weaken, your back works harder to support you. Exercises like planks, gentle Pilates, or physical therapy-guided movements can improve stability and reduce strain.
5. Maintain a Healthy Weight
   Carrying extra weight, especially around the midsection, places increased pressure on the lower spine. A balanced diet and regular movement help reduce that load and ease stress on the joints and discs.
6. Prioritize Ergonomics
   Supportive chairs, an ergonomic workspace, proper lifting techniques, and taking breaks from prolonged sitting all help protect your spine throughout the day.
   
7. Stay Hydrated and Choose Supportive Sleep Positions
   Hydration keeps the body’s tissues supple, including spinal discs. And sleeping with your spine supported (such as on your back with a pillow under your knees or on your side with a pillow between your legs) can reduce overnight strain.
8. Seek Preventive Care
   Don’t wait for pain to worsen before consulting a professional. Regular check-ins with a spine specialist, physical therapist visits, massage therapy, and ergonomic assessments can help you identify potential issues early and maintain healthy movement patterns.

When to See a Spine Specialist

Although age-related changes are common, you should seek medical evaluation if you experience:

• Persistent pain lasting more than a few weeks
• Numbness, tingling, or weakness in the legs
• Pain that worsens with activity or affects daily function
• Sudden severe pain after a fall or injury

A specialist can help determine the cause of your symptoms and recommend the most effective treatment options.

Spinal Health at Every Age

Aging may change your spine, but it doesn’t have to limit your life. Understanding what’s happening inside your body — and taking small, consistent steps to support it — can help you stay mobile, strong, and comfortable for years. With healthy habits, preventive care, and a proactive mindset, you can maintain spinal health at every stage of life. If you’d like to schedule a consultation about keeping your spine healthy as you get older, contact Dr. Edward Jung at 206-860-5578 today.

Most people connect dizziness to inner ear problems, low blood pressure, or dehydration—but rarely to the spine. However, issues in the cervical spine (the portion of the spine located in the neck) can disrupt the body’s balance system and contribute to episodes of dizziness, unsteadiness, or a sensation of spinning.

If you’ve been feeling “off-balance” and haven’t found answers, understanding the role of the cervical spine may help point you toward relief.

How the Cervical Spine Helps You Maintain Balance

The cervical spine is more than a supportive structure. It contains:

• Nerves that send information to the brain about body position
• Muscles that help stabilize your head and neck
• Joints and ligaments that coordinate movement

These structures communicate constantly with your eyes and inner ear, allowing your brain to interpret motion and orientation. When something disrupts that communication, the brain may receive conflicting signals. That’s what can lead to dizziness or imbalance.

Common causes include:

• Arthritis or spinal degeneration
• Herniated discs
• Whiplash or other neck trauma
• Muscle tension and inflammation
• Poor posture (especially from prolonged device use)
• Nerve compression

This type of imbalance-related dizziness is often referred to as cervicogenic dizziness or cervical vertigo.

Common Symptoms of Cervicogenic Dizziness

Symptoms can vary from person to person, but may include:

• Dizziness or unsteadiness triggered by neck movement
• Neck pain or stiffness accompanied by dizzy spells
• Limited range of motion in the neck
• Headaches at the base of the skull
• Difficulty focusing or blurred vision
• Nausea, especially after quick head turns or looking up

Symptoms may come and go, or they may worsen after prolonged sitting, driving, or screen time.

Diagnostic Tests for Cervicogenic Dizziness

Cervicogenic dizziness can be challenging to identify because its symptoms overlap with those of vestibular (inner ear), neurological, and cardiovascular conditions. No single test can confirm it. Because of this, many patients see multiple providers before discovering the cervical spine as the source of their imbalance.

A spine specialist or neurologist will perform a comprehensive evaluation to rule out other causes. Testing may include:

Physical Examination

Assessment of:

• Posture
• Neck mobility
• Muscle tightness and tenderness
• Gait and balance

Imaging Studies

Such as:

• X-rays
• MRI
• CT scans

These help identify inflammation, degeneration, disc herniation, or nerve compression.

Balance and Vestibular Testing

Specialized testing may evaluate how the brain responds to:

• Motion
• Visual cues
• Changes in head position

Once other conditions are ruled out, and symptoms correlate with neckrelated issues, cervicogenic dizziness can be diagnosed with more confidence.

Treatment Options for Spine-Related Dizziness

The encouraging news: Most patients improve significantly once the underlying cervical issue is treated. Your spine specialist may recommend a customized combination of therapies, such as:

Physical Therapy

Designed to:

• Improve posture
• Increase neck mobility
• Strengthen stabilizing muscles

This can correct faulty movement patterns contributing to dizziness.

Manual Therapy or Chiropractic Care

Gentle, controlled techniques may relieve joint dysfunction and reduce nerve irritation.

Medications

Short-term use may help manage:

• Inflammation
• Muscle spasms
• Related pain

Vestibular Rehabilitation

Specialized exercises retrain how your brain interprets balance signals and can reduce dizziness.

Lifestyle Modifications

Your care plan may include:

• Ergonomic adjustments at work
• Stretching routines
• Stress-reduction techniques
• Sleep position recommendations

Minimally Invasive Procedures

In cases involving significant disc herniation or spinal compression, targeted injections or minimally invasive surgery may be discussed.

When to See a Spine Specialist

Consider seeing a spine specialist if you experience:

• Persistent dizziness or imbalance
• Neck pain that accompanies dizzy spells
• Difficulty focusing your eyes
• Headaches at the base of the skull
• Worsening symptoms with head or neck movement

Left untreated, underlying neck conditions may progress, increasing discomfort and instability over time.

Cervicogenic Dizziness: The Bottom Line

While dizziness is often linked to inner ear or neurological issues, the cervical spine can also be an overlooked contributor. But, with the right diagnosis and treatment plan, most patients experience meaningful improvement in balance, comfort, and quality of life.

If dizziness is affecting your daily activities, sleep, or confidence, schedule a consultation today with Dr. Edward Jung. Identifying the true source of your symptoms is the first step toward restoring balance and peace of mind.

Dr. Jung recently attended a comprehensive spine surgery conference where he actively participated in an ArthroLab session, specifically Group I. This session comprised five stations, each accommodating up to five surgeons, with assigned faculty covering critical topics such as Medial Branch Nerve Transection, Interlaminar Discectomy, and Transforaminal Discectomy. The hands-on nature of the lab allowed surgeons, including Dr. Jung, to deepen their understanding and refine their skills in these essential aspects of spine surgery.

In the afternoon, Dr. Jung continued his participation in ArthroLab Session: Group II, mirroring the morning’s structure. This included five stations covering Medial Branch Nerve Transection, Interlaminar Discectomy, and Transforaminal Discectomy, allowing surgeons to further enhance their skills and knowledge.

The conference provided an invaluable opportunity for Dr. Jung and his fellow surgeons to engage in hands-on learning, exchange knowledge with industry experts, and stay abreast of the latest advancements in spine surgery. The combination of practical sessions, demonstrations, and product overviews ensured a comprehensive and immersive experience, contributing significantly to Dr. Jung’s expertise and the continuous improvement of spine surgery practices.