Osteoarthritis refer to a condition where bone spurs form on the vertebrae as a response of the body to degeneration or injury to the joints, commonly seen in middle-aged and elderly individuals. Among them, 80% of people over 50 show signs of Osteoarthritis after an X-ray examination. The sharp pain, limited mobility, spinal deformity, or compression of nerve structures significantly affect the quality of life of patients.
What is Osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis are small bony projections, known as osteophytes, that develop along the vertebrae. This process often occurs as a natural response of the body to degeneration or injury in the spine, particularly in the discs, cartilage, and facet joints. When the discs and cartilage between the vertebrae wear out or degenerate due to aging, pressure, or repetitive trauma, the spine loses its stability. To try to stabilize the damaged area, the body begins to form extra bone, resulting in the development of osteophytes.
Osteoarthritis can form anywhere along the spine but are commonly found in high-pressure areas such as the cervical or lumbar vertebrae. Osteoarthritis in different locations have distinct characteristics

Classification of common spinal spur locations
Cervical Osteoarthritis
Cervical Osteoarthritis develops in the vertebrae from C1 to C7, with C4, C5, and C6 being the most common locations. The discs between the cervical vertebrae gradually lose water and narrow in height due to aging. This reduces the cushioning ability of the discs, leading to friction between the vertebrae, causing wear and stimulating the growth of osteophytes. Bone spurs may compress the cervical nerves, causing symptoms such as neck pain, shoulder pain, numbness, or muscle weakness in the arms. In severe cases, spurs may compress the spinal cord, leading to loss of sensation, paralysis, or more severe neurological issues.

Thoracic Osteoarthritis
Thoracic Osteoarthritis, or mid-back spurs, occur in the area between the cervical spine and lumbar spine from T1 to T12. However, spurs in this region are less common compared to other locations. Typically, bone spurs are less likely to develop in the mid-back due to its structural features and limited mobility. However, when spurs do occur, patients may experience symptoms such as pain, tingling, and numbness in the chest area, pain in the middle of the back, pain radiating to the front of the chest, and potential muscle weakness in one or both arms. In rare cases, large bone spurs can affect chest movement, making breathing difficult.

Lumbar Osteoarthritis
This condition involves the formation of bone spurs in the spine between the rib cage and pelvis from L1 to L5, with L4 and L5 being the most affected. This area of the spine endures the most pressure in the body due to its role in supporting the upper body and engaging in most daily activities like bending, sitting, standing, and walking. As a result, this region is highly susceptible to osteophyte formation due to continuous degeneration and wear. Lumbar osteoarthritis are often associated with degenerative disc disease and surrounding spinal structures, causing the discs between the vertebrae to lose water, subchondral bone to become fibrous, and cartilage to wear down, leading to friction and stimulating the growth of osteophytes.
Moreover, lumbar osteoarthritis is a common cause of lower back pain. Bone spurs may compress nerves, causing pain radiating down the buttocks and legs, along with numbness or muscle weakness. Patients may find it difficult to bend, stand, or walk, affecting daily activities.

Causes of Osteoarthritis
Understanding the causes of osteoarthritis not only helps effectively treat the condition when it first appears but also prevents recurrence. Below are some of the main causes of osteoarthritis:
Spinal degeneration
One of the leading causes of osteoarthritis is spinal degeneration. Specifically, as we age, discs lose water, and joints wear out, leading to degeneration and an increased risk of cracking. Combined with the body’s attempt to “repair” these cracks by depositing calcium to heal the fractures, this process may occur unevenly. As a result, excess calcium is deposited in some areas while lacking in others. Areas with calcium deficiencies may lead to pits in the bone, while areas with excess calcium become rough and form osteophytes over time.
Calcium deposits
Calcium deposits are often the result of certain diseases, aging, metabolic disorders, or damage to the discs and joint cartilage. This abnormal calcium deposition can occur in inflamed areas or in conditions like ligament calcification or cartilage calcification. When this abnormal deposition occurs, tissues become hard and less flexible, leading to swelling, pain, and spinal damage. The body responds to this damage by stimulating calcium deposits, thereby creating osteophytes.
Spinal injury
Spinal injuries can be a contributing factor to the formation of bone spurs. When the spine is damaged, the body automatically triggers its natural repair process. Part of this process involves forming scar tissue and new bone to stabilize the damaged area. However, sometimes this process goes overboard, leading to the formation of excess bony projections known as osteophytes.
Chronic spinal inflammation
In cases of chronic spinal inflammation, prolonged inflammation can damage tissues around the vertebrae, including cartilage, discs, and facet joints. This condition is often seen in diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis. The body responds to inflammation by increasing the production of inflammatory factors and calcification, leading to the formation of new bone in the damaged areas. Calcification is part of the natural healing process, but when it occurs excessively or improperly, it can lead to the formation of bone spurs.

Symptoms of Osteoarthritis
The most noticeable symptom for recognizing osteoarthritis is pain and discomfort at the site where bone spurs form, such as the neck or back, especially during movement. Some warning signs of lumbar osteoarthritis include:
- Pain in the lower back, which may spread to the groin and legs, especially when standing up from a sitting position or during movement.
- Stiffness in the lower back, particularly in the morning or after prolonged sitting.
- Continuous pain lasting for more than six weeks.
- Increasing pain when turning, bending over, sitting for long periods, leading to restricted movement due to pain and stiffness.
- When bone spurs compress nerves, patients may experience numbness or muscle weakness in the legs.
- Patients may have difficulty or lose control of bladder and bowel movements.
- Patients may lose balance, with a tendency to lean forward or backward.
Some signs of cervical osteoarthritis include:
- Neck pain and stiffness, with increased pain during cold weather or head or neck movement.
- Stiffness when turning or bending the head.
- Possible neck and shoulder aches, numbness in the shoulders.
- When bone spurs compress nerves, it may cause pain radiating to the arms and even to the hands.
- Stiffness in the neck joints, difficulty moving or turning the head side to side.
- In some cases, headaches, pain reaching the top of the head, nausea, dizziness, and fatigue.

Who is at risk of osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis are commonly seen in the following groups:
- Elderly individuals, those experiencing spinal degeneration.
- People working in heavy labor, requiring lifting, bending, or twisting (such as movers, porters), which puts great pressure on the spine, increasing the risk of bone spur development.
- People who have had accidents or spinal injuries (vehicle accidents, sports injuries, or workplace accidents).
- Overweight or obese individuals, as excess body weight puts additional strain on the spine, accelerating degeneration and increasing the risk of bone spur formation.
- People who sit a lot and are less active, leading to the weakening of muscles that support the spine, which increases the pressure on the spine and leads to degeneration.
- People with chronic spinal osteoarthritis.
- People who smoke, drink alcohol, or use stimulants.
Serious complications of osteoarthritis
If not treated promptly and correctly, osteoarthritis can negatively affect the spinal cord and nerves, leading to dangerous complications such as:
- Spinal stenosis: The formation of bone spurs takes up space and narrows the spinal canal. This not only causes pain in the affected area but also includes numbness, weakness in the arms and legs.
- Vestibular disorder: For those with cervical osteoarthritis, blood and oxygen circulation to the brain is restricted, leading to symptoms of vestibular disorder such as loss of balance, nausea, and dizziness.
- Paralysis/Loss of Mobility: Bone spurs that form over time without treatment can compress the nervous system, leading to impaired motor function. Over time, this can result in paralysis and complete loss of mobility.
- Other complications: Patients may experience insomnia, spinal curvature, herniated discs, increased or decreased blood pressure, etc.

Effective and optimal treatment for spinal bone spurs at Optimal365 Chiropractic.
Chiropractic is currently the most optimal treatment method due to its non-invasive, drug-free, and needle-free approach, proving sustainable efficacy for spinal bone spur conditions. Chiropractic doctors at Optimal365 Chiropractic, with over 20 years of experience, use spinal adjustments combined with advanced equipment imported from the U.S. to ensure the most accurate diagnosis and assessment of the condition, effectively relieving pain, improving flexibility, and healing damage to the musculoskeletal and ligament system.

Chiropractic Adjustment: Directly addresses the root cause of the condition for long-term relief.
The highly skilled doctors at Optimal365 Chiropractic use precise techniques to realign the vertebrae, preserving the nerves that pass through the spine and reducing pressure on the nervous system. This realignment expands the vertebral spaces, restoring spinal flexibility while safely and effectively alleviating pain. The body’s natural healing mechanisms are activated, enhancing blood circulation and boosting overall resilience.

Intensive Physical Therapy: Enhancing flexibility and elevating mobility.
The technical team at Optimal365 Chiropractic provides intensive physical therapy to enhance flexibility, reduce pain, relax muscles, and release muscle knots around spinal bone spurs. These advanced muscle therapy techniques relieve and stretch tight muscles, effectively addressing pain and tension in contracted areas. This approach helps patients improve muscle strength and flexibility, repair damaged musculoskeletal tissues, and eliminate chronic muscle pain.
Moreover, intensive muscle therapy improves blood circulation, enhances the supply of nutrients and oxygen to muscles, and improves lymphatic flow, blood vessels under the skin, and cellular tissue. This therapy also effectively addresses trigger points, which cause pain and muscle stiffness, resolving mobility restrictions caused by acute and chronic conditions, helping patients recover quickly and maintain optimal musculoskeletal function.

High-Tech Equipment: Healing damage from deep within muscle tissue.
Treating spinal bone spurs with high-tech equipment, including shockwave therapy, laser machines, electrotherapy, and ultrasound therapy, helps break down abnormal bone structures and reduce nerve irritation. Additionally, this advanced therapy supports pain relief, stimulates tissue healing, rapidly reduces swelling and inflammation, inhibits muscle spasms, and increases circulation in the affected area.

Rehabilitation exercises:
The physiotherapy team at Optimal365 Chiropractic guides patients through specific therapeutic exercises tailored to each patient’s condition, focusing on relieving pain and strengthening the muscles that support the spine — especially the back, abdominal, and hip muscles. These exercises are designed to enhance spinal mobility, flexibility, and overall function.
Additionally, the patient’s range of motion is improved, increasing the ability to perform daily activities and enhancing posture. This process not only accelerates the recovery of the musculoskeletal system but also shortens treatment time, reduces the risk of recurrence, and helps patients return to their daily lives more effectively and safely.
Osteoarthritis, or spinal bone spurs, is not limited to the elderly and is becoming increasingly common in younger people due to improper lifestyle habits, working methods, and physical activities. It is crucial for individuals to understand the causes and symptoms of this condition to seek timely consultation and receive appropriate treatment. Early diagnosis and proper intervention not only alleviate symptoms but also reduce the risk of serious complications. Awareness and proactive management are key to maintaining long-term bone and joint health, ensuring a better quality of life for patients.
Reference source:
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2. Saadat, E. (n.d.). Bone spurs (osteophytes) and back pain. Spine-health. Retrieved [Month, Day, Year], from https://www.spine-health.com/conditions/arthritis/bone-spurs-osteophytes-and-back-pain
3. Mayo Clinic. (2024, February 23). Bone spurs: Symptoms and causes. Mayo Clinic. Retrieved [Month, Day, Year], from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/bone-spurs/symptoms-causes/syc-20370212
4. NHS. (2023, March 15). Osteophyte (bone spur). NHS. Retrieved [Month, Day, Year], from https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/osteophyte/