Problems of Balneology Physiotherapy and Exercise Therapy · Oct 15, 2026

Effectiveness of comprehensive treatment of age-associated spinal diseases (original study)

By Miryutova NF, Minchenko NN, Владимировна БЛ et al.

Introduction: Increased life expectancy leads to an increasing prevalence of degenerative diseases (intervertebral disc degeneration is diagnosed in 90% of adults aged 50 and older). In the treatment of age-related spinal diseases, it is important to use methods that can influence the primary mechanisms leading to disc degeneration. Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of the combined use of physiotherapy and a dietary supplement based on a peptidelipid complex of maral antlers in patients with age-associated spinal diseases. Materials and methods: Patients were assessed for pain level (VAS), vertebro-neurological status indicators, adaptive capacity and quality of life (ODI), and biological age (model by Levine M.E. et al.) at baseline and after complex treatment. Laboratory tests included clinical, biochemical, and immunological blood tests, including assessment of inflammatory markers (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, and hsCRP), oxidative status indicators (PerOx), aging markers (Aggrecan), and longevity proteins (SIRT1, SIRT6, Klotho). Spinal radiography was also used to calculate the intervertebral disc height index (DHI). Results: The study included 87 patients, including 40 patients in the comparison group (received exercise therapy, manual massage, horizontal spinal traction, mud therapy) and 47 patients in the main group, who were additionally prescribed laser therapy and dietary supplements. In the comparison group, regression of clinical symptoms (p2=0.001–0.046), a decrease in the level of pro-inflammatory markers (p2=0.002–0.036) and peroxides (p2=0.000), an increase in adaptive potential (p2=0.001) were observed. In patients of the main group, along with the positive dynamics of the clinical picture (p1=0.000–0.017), anti-inflammatory effect (p1=0.021–0.032), a decrease in the concentration of peroxides (p1=0.021), an increase in adaptive capabilities (p1=0.000), a decrease in the number of patients with unsatisfactory adaptation (p1=0.020), an increase in the level of life to a mild degree of impairment (p=0.011), an increase in the intervertebral disc height index (p1=0.043), a decrease in biological age (p1=0.009), a decrease in the content of the serum biomarker of cartilage destruction aggrecan (p1=0.037) and an increase in the concentration of the “longevity protein” Klotho (p1=0.025). Conclusion: The combined use of physiotherapy and dietary supplements not only alleviates the clinical manifestations of age-associated spinal diseases, but also improves the quality of life of patients and achieves a geroprotective effect both at the level of intervertebral discs (reducing the level of cartilage degradation markers, increasing the disc height index) and at the level of the whole organism (reducing the level of oxidative stress, inflammation markers, reducing the biological age of patients, increasing the content of “longevity proteins”).

doi.org/10.21320/2309-1355-2026-103-3-15-25Open accessInterventions