Back pain link to 24-hour body clock

05 Sep 2016

Revealed: our spinal discs have 24-hour body clocks that can malfunction and cause pain

New research by University scientists has for the first time shown that our spinal discs have 24-hour body clocks which when they malfunction, can contribute to lower back pain.

Lower back pain is amongst the most prevalent spinal diseases associated with increasing age, with over 80% of the UK population predicted to experience back pain within their lifetime. Progressive degeneration of the spine disc is a major contributing factor.

The study led by Dr Qing-Jun Meng and Professor Judith Hoyland could have important implications on the understanding and treatment of the condition.

Ageing and inflammation, say the scientists, are major causes of disc degeneration and lower back pain. In this research, both conditions were found to cause body clock malfunction.

The team say getting a good night’s sleep will protect our body clocks and potentially avoid disc problems later in life. Avoiding night working where possible, or working fixed regular hours, as opposed to rotating shift work, they say, will also help.

Additionally, the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) we take for back pain will be more effective if we take into account our natural body clock cycle, by timing treatment to anticipate pain, they add.

Dr Meng, a Senior Research Fellow funded by Arthritis Research UK, said: “It has been known for years that, as a consequence of the daily activity and resting cycle, we are taller in the mornings by up to 2cm more than when we go to bed.

"The discovery of body clocks in the disc may go some way to explain, for the first time, the science behind this rhythmic physiology of the spine.

“Our research shows that this system is regulated by our internal body clock and when the body clock ceases to work properly during ageing or in shift workers, lower back pain is more likely to become an issue.”

He added: “Looking after your body clock will help manage or delay the onset of your back pain.

“And based on our findings, we hope that one day, we may be able to combine NSAIDs with clock targeting compounds to provide a more powerful solution.”