Dr. Tony Branker,DC,MS,DACBSP

01/09/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/173QEKfV8b/

01/07/2026

Optimal Spine Loading 🎯🔥

Just published 🔥

𝗥𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰: 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗱𝗲𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗻𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗱𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹

📘 Intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration is still widely presented as an inevitable consequence of ageing and spinal loading (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16915105/). However, mechanobiological data increasingly suggest that this interpretation ignores how strongly disc health depends on dose, type, and variability of mechanical exposure. A brand-new editorial by Shala in BJSM (https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/early/2026/01/05/bjsports-2025-110872) complements the contemporary biopsychosocial framework by highlighting the disc’s capacity for adaptation as one biological dimension within a broader system of physical, psychological and social influences.

💧The IVD is avascular. Disc cells rely almost entirely on diffusion for nutrient supply and waste removal. This diffusion is mechanically driven. Cyclic compression and decompression generate fluid flow, regulate osmotic pressure, and maintain proteoglycan synthesis (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16915105/, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26666742/). When loading is reduced, diffusion decreases, anaerobic metabolism increases, intradiscal pH drops, and catabolic processes dominate (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26409630/).

🏃‍♂️‍➡️ Quantitatively, favourable disc responses appear to occur within a relatively narrow loading range. In vivo pressure measurements indicate that moderate dynamic loading generate intradiscal pressures of approximately 0.3–1.2 MPa, a range associated with anabolic or maintenance-oriented disc responses (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28422125/, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26666742/). Loads below this threshold may be biologically insufficient, while sustained or excessive pressures may become harmful. Accelerometry-based MRI studies further refine this concept. Disc adaptations appear most pronounced when acceleration forces fall between 0.44 and 0.59 g, corresponding to brisk walking or slow running. Outside this window—particularly during high-impact or ballistic activities—changes in diffusion and hydration are less favourable, especially in individuals with pre-existing degeneration (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28422125/).

🩻 MRI data support these mechanobiological observations. Cross-sectional studies show that runners exhibit longer T2 relaxation times in lumbar discs compared with sedentary individuals, reflecting higher water and proteoglycan content rather than disc hypertrophy (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28422125/, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32084224/). These adaptations are most evident in the nucleus pulposus, consistent with its role in load distribution and osmotic regulation. But we would like to add that interventional exercise studies so far were not successful in improving disc parameters in low back pain patients (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32211998/)

📊Importantly, disc tolerance is not constant throughout the day. Intradiscal pressure is highest in the early morning due to overnight rehydration and gradually normalises after 60–90 minutes of upright activity. High-load spinal tasks performed immediately after waking may therefore exceed tissue tolerance, even if the same tasks are well tolerated later in the day (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10222525/, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9854759/).

🪑Sedentary behaviour represents a biologically meaningful exposure rather than a neutral state. Longitudinal MRI data show that individuals performing

11/14/2025

11/11/2025

🧠🔬 A new study from the University of Oklahoma reveals that the hormone FGF21 (fibroblast growth factor 21) can reverse fatty liver disease by sending signals to the brain. This brain-liver communication helps regulate metabolism, reduce fat buildup, and even reverse fibrosis in the liver. Fatty liver disease, or MASLD, affects roughly 40% of the global population and can progress to MASH, a more severe form that causes scarring and liver damage.

The research showed that FGF21’s effects are stronger through brain signaling than through direct action on the liver. By adjusting nerve activity, the brain helps the liver process fats and cholesterol more effectively, restoring liver function. These findings clarify how FGF21-based drugs currently in clinical trials may work and highlight the central role the brain plays in metabolic regulation.

FGF21 works similarly to GLP-1, a hormone targeted by certain weight loss medications, demonstrating how signals from hormones produced outside the brain can have major systemic effects. This discovery could lead to more effective therapies for millions suffering from fatty liver disease, offering hope for reversing liver damage and improving long-term health.

Source/Credit: University of Oklahoma, Cell Metabolism, 2025

How does this brain-liver connection change your view on metabolic health? What do you think is the most exciting potential application for this research?

Disclaimer: This content is for informational and educational purposes only.

11/08/2025

💡 Fat infiltration in deep regions of the multifidus at L4/L5 and L5/S1 is more strongly associated with pain and adjacent disc degeneration and less associated with age, s*x, and BMI than overall fat infiltration%.

👉🏻 This is from the new paper "Spatial patterns of fat within the deep multifidus as a biomarker for chronic low back pain" by Gustafsson et al 2025

📚 Do you struggle to stay on top of new research?

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Disclaimer: Sharing a study is NOT an endorsement. You should read the original research yourself and be critical.

11/04/2025

10/31/2025

🦵 The Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL) – a structure with remarkable healing potential!

The PCL benefits from a rich blood supply, mainly from branches of the middle genicular artery, providing a favorable biological environment for healing.

This explains why isolated PCL tears often heal successfully with non-operative or minimally invasive management.

Understanding the biological advantages of the PCL helps refine surgical indications and supports a more personalized approach to ligament repair and reconstruction. 🌱💪

10/27/2025

It looked impossible. A man once paralyzed from the waist down now stands on his own, not with machines or wires, but with science. In a world-first breakthrough, Japanese scientists have launched a stem cell trial that may redefine what it means to heal a broken body.

Researchers used induced pluripotent stem cells, reprogrammed from adult cells, to regenerate damaged spinal tissue. The procedure doesn’t just repair — it rebuilds. Early trials show remarkable nerve regeneration, restoring movement once thought permanently lost. What was once a distant dream for millions living with spinal injuries is now a living, breathing reality.

This isn’t fiction or futuristic hope; it’s medicine rewriting its own limits. The man’s first step was small, but it echoed louder than any scientific announcement. Each motion proved that human resilience, paired with innovation, can overcome even the harshest biological barriers.

Scientists believe this method could soon apply to stroke recovery and neurodegenerative diseases like ALS and Parkinson’s, giving new meaning to the word “cure.” The trial continues under strict monitoring, but its message is already clear: paralysis may no longer be permanent.

In Japan’s labs, science has turned despair into determination. It has shown that healing is not just about mending bones or nerves, but about restoring hope — step by step, cell by cell.

10/21/2025

Rotator cuff tears "created by Sagar Parikh, MD " 👤

10/15/2025

🕊️ Gracias por abrirnos el camino, Dr. Enrique Benet Canut 🕊️

Hoy despedimos a un gigante de la quiropráctica mexicana.
El Dr. Enrique Benet Canut no solo fue fundador y presidente honorífico de la Federación Mexicana de Quiropráctica Deportiva, fundador del Colegio de Profesionistas Científico Quiroprácticos de México y un impulsor incansable del desarrollo de nuestra profesión en el país —también fue el motor que hizo posible la creación de las universidades de Quiropráctica en México.

Su visión trascendió generaciones. Su compromiso con la educación, la ética y el servicio inspiró a miles de quiroprácticos que hoy seguimos su legado con orgullo y gratitud.

Reconocido como “Quiropráctico del Siglo”, el Dr. Benet Canut no solo transformó la historia de la profesión, sino la vida de todos los que tuvimos la fortuna de aprender de su ejemplo.

Su legado permanecerá en cada ajuste, en cada aula y en cada paciente que se beneficia del camino que él inició.
Descanse en paz, maestro. 🙏🏼

Con respeto,
los miembros de la Federación Mexicana de Quiropráctica Deportiva

10/07/2025

09/28/2025

Wishing safe travels back home to all the ACBSP staff, examiners, volunteers, and candidates who joined us at Northwestern Health Sciences University in Minnesota this weekend for fall practical exams.

Our next practical exam will take place on April 23rd, 2026 at our Chiropractic Sports Sciences Symposium in Dallas, TX. Visit the website in our bio for more information!