"Back in Line" with Dr. Mosier: Built to Heal, Part 3

Is Arthritis Just “Old Age” … or Something Else?

Let’s talk about arthritis, degenerative disc disease, and a big misconception I hear all the time:

“Well doc, I’m just getting older.”

I get it. I respect it. But here’s the problem with that explanation…

Arthritis Isn’t Random—It’s Mechanical

If arthritis were simply caused by age, then every disc in your spine—being the same age—would wear down equally.

But that’s not what we see.

I’ll often show patients their X-rays and point out something like this:

• C5–C6: Disc thinning, bone spurs, degeneration

• C2–C3: Looks great

Same person.Same age.Same spine.

So, what gives?

At some point, a misalignment (subluxation) occurred at that segment, changing how it moved—and more importantly, how it didn’t move. 

Motion = Nutrition

Your spinal discs don’t have a direct blood supply.They rely on movement to:

• Pump nutrients in

• Flush waste products out

When a segment becomes restricted or misaligned, that pumping action stops.

No movement → no nutrition → degeneration.

Think of it like gears in a truck engine.If one gear is off just a little, over time it grinds instead of glides.

Grinding leads to wear and tear.Wear and tear lead to arthritis.

Let’s Go Deeper: The Cervical Curve Matters

Here’s where things get interesting.

Last year, researchers performed a meta-analysis (a study of many studies) looking at the relationship between:

• Loss of the cervical curve (neck curve)

• Scoliosis

What did they find?

100% of scoliotic cases had a loss of cervical lordosis.

Not some. Not most. All of them.

That means posture—especially “text neck”—plays a much bigger role than most people realize.

Why Loss of Curve Leads to Arthritis

The joints in your neck (facet joints) are designed to glide smoothly when your spine has proper curvature.

When you lose that curve:

• The joints are no longer parallel

• One side becomes compressed

• The other side overstretches

Now instead of gliding, the joints grind.

And anything that grinds… becomes arthritic.

Add decades of:

• Looking down at phones

• Driving

• Working

• Living life

…and you can see how degeneration accelerates.

Curves, Compression, and Muscle Imbalance

When the spine curves abnormally:

• The concave side compresses → faster arthritis

• The convex side overstretches → muscle weakness

That’s why we often see:

• One side tighter

• One side weaker

• Asymmetrical posture

Especially in scoliosis or abnormal curvature cases.

How Do We Correct This?

One of the biggest keys we’ve seen in our office starts with the cervical curve.

When we restore that curve:

• Abnormal spinal curves begin to improve

• Degenerative forces decrease

• Muscle balance improves

A big part of this is consistency with corrective therapies.

Why the Vibration Plate Matters

Love it or hate it, the vibration plate works.

When combined with head weighting:

• It triggers a righting reflex

• The brain signals posture muscles to engage

• The head moves back into better alignment

Those muscles attach to ligaments and tendons—so now we’re not just adjusting bones, we’re retraining the system.

When we:

1. Unlock the spine with an adjustment

2. Reduce inflammation

3. Engage muscles on the vibration plate

…the post-X-rays are often dramatically improved.

The Big Takeaway

A straighter spine is:

• A healthier spine

• A longer-lasting spine

Arthritis is not just “bad luck” or “old age.”

It’s often the result of:

• Lost motion

• Lost curvature

• Long-term mechanical stress

The good news? When we correct the cause, we can slow, stop, and in many cases improve the outcome.

Final Thought

Your spine is meant to move. It’s meant to curve. It’s meant to last.

I hope this was helpful. I hope it was informative.

As always—I love you guys, and I look forward to seeing you next time.

Your friend,

Dr. Mosier